A project pairing Lambton College students with a Sarnia police officer to probe high-volume, less serious crimes was recognized by Ontario’s police chiefs.
A project pairing Lambton College students with a Sarnia police officer to probe high-volume, less serious crimes was recognized by Ontario’s police chiefs.
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The Sarnia Police Community Crime Unit unveiled in September at the college received an Award of Excellence in Community Safety, Wellness and Crime Prevention from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police which held its annual conference this week in London.
“Great to see our innovative partnership with Lambton College receiving this prestigious provincial award,” Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis said in post to X.
“Congratulations to the CCU team, our community and all Sarnia Police members who made this possible,” he said.
The association said in a news release the award recognizes the accomplishments of a police office and community partners “working together to improve community safety and well-being.”
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When it was launched, police and the college said the unit would see a city police officer supervise college criminal justice students probing crimes such as shoplifting and bike thefts.
“The Community Crime Unit is part of a visionary program where local college students partner with real officers to solve real crimes,” the police chiefs’ association said.
In its first term which began in October, the unit investigated about 240 incidents, taking 838 reports and was responsible for 129 criminal charges laid in cases that would likely have remained unaddressed, the association said in a news release.
Sarnia police developed in-house investigative software to access case information, identify suspects, management cases, track evidence and conduct analytics.
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“The impressive and cost-effective work being completed by the CCU is evident, with results speaking for themselves,” the release said.
Creation of the unit came after a city police public survey found 52 per cent of those asked said they were a victim or a witness of a crime that wasn’t reported.
Most often, reasons for not reporting the crime included the belief police were too busy, that it would take too long or that nothing would come of it.
“The SPS (Sarnia Police Service) needed to find a better way to address high volume, less serious crimes, in a financially responsible and efficient way,” the release said.
Students in the unit collect statements and evidence, and use surveillance photos to identify suspects, but would have “no contact with suspects directly,” Davis said when the program was announced.
That would be handled by police officers, but “everything right up until that point, the students will have a hand in,” he said.
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