| New Timmins Police Station "A Model in Ontario" |
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The summer of 2007 will be remembered as the culmination of a dream for the Timmins Police Service, benefiting everyone that lives in and around the community. The opening of the new spacious, high-tech “Timmins Community Police Facility”, both on time and on budget, was truly a remarkable achievement, and was the result of years of planning & research.
Located at 185 Spruce Street South, the 32,000 square foot 3 storey building incorporates ideas and concepts chosen from touring countless other police facilities in Ontario, and totally exceeds provincial standards. Mayor Tom Laughren said the new facility will “afford the opportunities and resources to our police force and their partners to deliver excellence in service to our community”. In addition, the Mayor said the facility will promote economic growth and investment in the City through the provision of centralized dispatching services in Northeastern Ontario.
Gerald Petroski, Chair of the Timmins Police Services Board said that the most important features of this new facility are about service to the community. In his message to the public he stated “Through partnerships that we have established we are now able to offer first-class emergency services to the citizens of Timmins and our surrounding communities”. |
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The building has high-tech video surveillance with audio, both inside and out for complete security. All doors have to be swiped with and electronically coded key card to gain access. There is a Technical Services section where police maintain their photo, video and audio tools that can be used to gather evidence.
The needs and concerns of the citizens were taken into account with the inclusion of a “soft interview” room where victims of crime can meet with police to provide information and evidence. These victims can sit in comfort and security while suspects are processed in another part of the building. Support services include VCARS (Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Service), DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), Crimestoppers, and a state-of-the-art Collision Reporting Center featuring Accident Support Services International’s Microsoft award winning CROMS (Collision Reporting & Occurrence Management System.
Timmins Accident Support Services Ltd. is very proud to be an important part of the new facility as we begin a 6-month pilot project with the Timmins Police Service. The Collision Reporting Centre (CRC) will provide a convenient reporting environment to the public for the investigation of property damage collisions. Police will continue to attend collisions involving injury or death, alcohol, criminal activity, vehicles transporting dangerous goods, municipal vehicles, or damage to private property.
The CRC hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday though Friday. Citizens report their collision in a safe and convenient location, and are offered the opportunity to immediately contact their Broker or Insurance Company to get their claim started right from the police station. This one-stop service solution helps citizens ‘get back on the road’ as quickly as possible and shortens the lifespan of the claim. Insurance Companies fund the program; therefore, there is no cost to the public or police for these additional services.
Our Congratulations to the Timmins Police Service on this well deserved facility. We look forward to working with you in serving the citizens of Timmins in their time of need. |
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