November, 2005 - Nr. 11
GCBPA visits Waterloo Regional Police Headquarters
by Herwig Wandschneider
Region of Waterloo Chief of Police R. Larry Gravill invited the K-W German Canadian Business and Professional Association to tour the Region’s Police Headquarters on Maple Grove Road in Cambridge.
![Police Chief Larry Gravill in his office [photo: Herwig Wandschneider]](510c-HW-1305.jpg)
Chief
Gravill kicked off the tour in the headquarters’ Gym with a convincing
address to the 50 keenly interested association members and guests. His
overview was substantiated by four detailed power-point presentations, made
by four experts of the force, on the organizational and division structure,
crime statistics for the region, crime analysis, equipment used, actions
taken, extensive community programmes, future plans and budgets.
950 staff members (of which there were 646 police officers in 2004) in 5 Divisions make up the Regional Police, covering a population totalling just under 500,000. The force uses some 233 Motor Vehicles, 8 Motor Bikes and 14 Bicycles, yes Bicycles. The group was told of the more than 400 calls received every day, the 11,452 total collisions in 2004, and the many initiatives undertaken to improve crime and accident statistics and reduce the number of impaired drivers in the Region. As to crime the group learned that the Region was 17th and 21st in violent and property crime respectively out of 25 Metropolitan Areas, very much on the lower end of the scale.
![Instructions on use of SWAT gear [photo: Herwig Wandschneider]](510c-HW-1306.jpg)
Routine
police vehicles and equipment, but also SWAT team support and weapons were
demonstrated and open for inspection to the group. Naturally, the
Harley-Davidson Motorcycle caught the eye of some younger spirits of the
Association and their wives, but the crowd gathered around the "tools" used
by the SWAT teams to respond to criminal emergencies. An impressive array of
handguns, as well as machine and stun guns were on display, together with
protective closing and brute-force-gear to break down unresponsive tough
doors. The Taser drew plenty of interest as a temporary disabling device.
(Just check the word on Google to see the power-range of such devices on the
market, at least in the USA!!)
The subsequent tour took the group through the entire building from the executive offices through the communication room (a peak through the glass doors), where telephone calls were received, monitored, recorded and on-duty police officers dispatched to the various emergencies. The room was alive with constant talk on the microphones and telephones and it was abundantly clear that the group could not interfere with the emergencies in progress.
It was clear to the group that the department was well organized, including public relations. The group came away knowing that public and community relations are important aspects for this organization, that crime fighting appears more successful than reported sometimes in the daily media. But it was also clear that the plan to increase staff by 13% over three years may not be enough to keep up with the growth of the community. Particularly considering that violent crime, has increased 15% in 2004 over 2003 and now stands at 9 violent crimes every single day of the year. 3 out of 4 violent crimes in the Region were solved in 2004, which means that on average more than 2 out of the 9 are not. Chief Gravill is not satisfied and continues to struggle to improve the clearance rate as one of the many objectives.
Mr. Klaus Koeppen, President of the German-Canadian Business and Professional Association, concluded the visit thanking Chief Gravill and his team for the time taken to make this evening so informative and wished the entire force success in meeting their objectives.
