Corman Park Police Chief Ron Chomyn is looking to strengthen communication between the municipal police force and residents of the RM of Corman Park.
“My top priority is to have a real re-engagement with members of the community,” said Chomyn, who stepped in to his new role at the beginning of January after several decades with the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) and Canadian Pacific Police Service. “It’s important for us to reconnect with the residents, neighbourhood associations and hamlets in all eight divisions.
“We want to be made aware of the concerns of RM residents. If you see something suspicious, please call us. That’s what we’re here for.”
If it’s an emergency, call 911. If it’s not an emergency, call the Corman Park Police office at 306-242-8808.
“I’m a big believer in Peel’s Principles,” said Chomyn. “Basically, that’s a philosophy first articulated in 1829, where ‘the police are the public and the public are the police’. It’s a community-based method of policing that relies on public support to prevent crime.” (See sidebar on Peel’s Principles at the end of this article.)
Chomyn said he anticipates meeting with residents at public meetings to get direct input from them.
“My intention is to get to every division, and if residents want to have a neighbourhood association meeting I’m very open to attending those,” he said.
Chomyn said one of the initiatives being considered is assigning specific officers to act as liaison people for each division within the RM.
“It wouldn’t mean that officer is the only one in that division,” said Chomyn. ‘But if a problem is identified in a certain division, then the officer who is the main contact for that division can be notified and we can take steps to deal with it from there.
“Each division is different,” he added. “And the issues they deal with will be different as well.”
The Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) was established in 1970, the same year the RM of Corman Park was created through the amalgamation of the RMs of Cory, Warman and Park. There are currently 11 CPPS officers, including the Chief. Two of those officers are part-time.
The CPPS mission is to provide an acceptable level of protection to persons and property through fair and firm application of the laws. Its responsibilities include enforcement of provincial statutes and municipal bylaws, including those related to traffic, and investigating calls for service from the public.
Chomyn said the CPPS is in a unique position because it works closely with two RCMP detachments and the SPS, as well as the Dalmeny Police Service.
“I’ve met with the detachment commanders from the RCMP, and I’m impressed with the level of teamwork and communication that exists between all these agencies,” said Chomyn. “The bottom line is that when there is an emergent situation, it’s all hands on deck, and it doesn’t really matter what agency you’re from; you are there to protect life and in those situations where the level of risk is increased, all the members work together. Police are police, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Corman Park or Saskatoon Police or RCMP.”
The CPPS takes its overall direction from its Board of Police Commissioners, which ultimately answers to the elected Corman Park council.
Chomyn said there is strong support for the police service from the commissioners and council.
“We do have very good equipment,” said Chomyn.
One change of policy that has been implemented since Chomyn took over as Chief of Police is the CPPS no longer has mandatory approved screening device (ASD) roadside sobriety tests for drivers pulled over for any reason after 6:00 p.m.
Chomyn said roadside breathalyzer tests are now left up to the officer’s discretion.
“Impaired driving is a very serious problem, not just in Saskatchewan, but across the country,” said Chomyn. “But to have success in laying charges and getting convictions in court, everything has to be done correctly.
“I want our officers to utilize their discretion. If you’re going to ask someone to submit to a roadside test, then you should have the grounds, including physical evidence and your own observations, to make that type of demand.
“The officer has to be able to articulate the reasons for that type of investigation.”
Chomyn said he wants to see “a good balance between enforcement and education” while maintaining a strong visible presence through patrols in every division across the RM.
He said he’s “honoured and humbled” to take the helm of a police force with more than 50 years of service to the RM.
“We have a really good dedicated and committed group of police officers that want to ensure the safety of the residents of the RM, both through the preservation of life and protection of property,” he said. “I encourage people to contact the police or RM office if they have an issue or concern.”
‘The police are the public, and the public are the police’ – Robert Peel’s philosophy of community policing
Sir Robert Peel, known as the ‘Father of Modern Policing,’ established the London Metropolitan Police Force in 1829. The London Police Commissioners established ‘Peel’s Principles’, a list of nine principles based on the following three core ideas:
• The goal is preventing crime, not catching criminals. If the police stop crime before it happens, we don’t have to punish citizens or suppress their rights. An effective police department doesn’t have high arrest stats; its community has low crime rates.
• The key to preventing crime is earning public support. Every community member must share the responsibility of preventing crime, as if they were all volunteer members of the force. They will only accept this responsibility if the community supports and trusts the police.
• The police earn public support by respecting community principles. Winning public approval requires hard work to build reputation: enforcing the laws impartially, hiring officers who represent and understand the community, and using force only as a last resort.
https://lawenforcementactionpartnership.org/peel-policing-principles/