Cornwall police services board briefs: Missing persons annual report
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The Cornwall Police Service investigated 163 missing-person reports in 2022, according to a report presented at Thursday’s police services board required under the Ontario Missing Persons Act.
The report, penned by Staff Sgt. Robin McIntosh and presented by Chief Shawna Spowart and Deputy Chief Vincent Foy, outlined how in the majority of these reports, the person was found and no other measures were required. The act mandates police services annually report when such measures are taken, which includes urgent demands for information where investigators determine the missing person would be harmed if police had to wait to receive it through the legal system.
Cornwall police made such demands 28 times in 2022; 19 of them were to ‘ping’ a mobile device to assist in determining its location; eight included releasing information on social media requesting public assistance with information about the missing person; and, one was a request for financial information to see if the person had used debit or credit cards that could help identify a location where they might have been.
Cornwall police maintain a missing-person post pinned to the top of its social-media feeds for Paul Bellmore, 43, last seen in the area of the Cornwall Civic Complex on July 29.
Secondary activities
Thirty one Cornwall police employees declared and had their off-duty activities approved in 2022.
The so-called secondary activities can include paid employment or volunteer service beyond that which is included in the individual’s employment, and applies to both sworn officers and civilian employees. These must be declared to the chief of police, who has the discretion to approve the activity based on their judgment of whether it would violate the Police Services Act by putting the employee in conflict of interest, interferes or adversely influences the performance of their duties, could be considered a full-time position for another person, or holds an advantage by being employed by the police.
All 31 submitted activities were approved in 2022: one as a consultant, six providing customer service, two teaching, and 22 serving on boards of directors. The number is higher than in prior years’ reports as Spowart explained for 2022 those serving on boards were asked to submit. She explained any employee serving on a board is doing so as a civilian member.
“This shows how our officers are really involved in the community,” board chair Michel Payette said.
Budget update
Spowart told the board Thursday Cornwall city council had adopted its 2023 budget on Wednesday evening, which includes the police service’s budget the board approved back in January.
The chief noted that since the board adopted the budget, Cornwall police was notified by the province of an increase in the amount it would be receiving to provide court security. Budgeted at $850,000 for 2023, the actual amount increased by $129,000 and will be $979,000.
As the police service with jurisdiction over the Cornwall courthouse, the Cornwall police employ special constables to provide the bulk of security services to the courts.
Spowart said the increased revenue means increase to the 2023 police budget dropped to 3.15 per cent over the 2022 budget.
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