The issue of foot patrols is one that Wellington North runs across from time to time.
As council met recently with Wellington OPP Inspector Scott Smith, the issue cropped up once more.
“I know we’ve wanted to see those hours on a regular basis,” said councillor Dan Yake.
Smith provided councillors with the local hours over the past three years.
“When we are not doing calls, the foot patrol hours go up,” he said.
As a result, in 2009 when the calls were up, the foot patrol hours went down, Smith said.
“In my books, that is a reasonable response, since you are busy doing other things that are out there.”
He said the 4.8 hours per day averaged out to just over twp hours per 12-hour shift – two hours in the daytime and two at night.
Smith noted the foot patrol hours are actually up this year in Wellington North.
“We are making some strides at it,” he said. “We’re out there doing it, maybe not always when you see it, but nevertheless, we’re still out there doing it.”
He said the intent is to have both day and night foot patrols.
“Nighttime particularly, because that’s when people are up to no good. A lot of the time, we get accused of not doing it, but people don’t see us doing it because of the hours when it’s being done.”
He said vandalism generally doesn’t happen in the daytime.
He noted that this year included a new resource officer at the Mount Forest high school.
Up front on that person’s agenda was to walk downtown and introduce herself to business owners, particularly those who sold fast food and convenience stores.
“It’s been effective and well received,” Smith said.
