Written by Police Foundations students Koshin Young and Joshua Woodcock
Between November 2012 and January 2013, second-year Loyalist College Police Foundations students worked with the Belleville Police Service to help the organization with its 2013 business plan.
We volunteered our time to survey the community about their thoughts on the Belleville Police Service. The survey asked residents 12 questions, which ranged from police response times and police presence in schools to drug and traffic issues. The Belleville Police Service’s goal in conducting the survey was to collect public feedback on the Belleville Police Service’s community involvement.
The results of the survey will be incorporated into the Belleville Police Service’s business plan for 2013 to 2015, helping to inform budget recommendations. In total, 1,710 surveys were completed.
As College students, we appreciated the fact that the Belleville Police Service was asking for our assistance and we were honoured to help. We knew this would be a great step forward in our chosen career paths. Most students in the Police Foundations program want to pursue careers in the justice field, whether it is as a police officer, a correctional officer, or a career in security. This experience may put us one step ahead of our competitors who are also pursuing these goals.
Our class travelled through the City of Belleville on foot, knocking door-to-door at homes and businesses. It was a new and nerve-racking experience for most of us. While canvassing, our experience with the community was a positive one. Residents were enthusiastic, welcoming and had insightful input, which greatly enhanced the process. It gave us a chance to interact face-to-face with community members. It got us out talking to strangers, which improved our communications skills. The experience gained from this opportunity was important because in our future careers, we need to be able to communicate effectively and not let our nerves get in the way.
After the canvassing was complete, two students presented the results of the survey at City Hall in front of the Belleville Police Services Board, Mayor Neil Ellis, the Belleville Police Service Chief Cory McMullan and Deputy Chief Paul Vandegraaf. The results were presented again in front of the Loyalist College Board of Governors, showing the College the steps that were taken by Loyalist students during the process to contribute to the Belleville Police Service business plan.
Survey results showed that 76 percent of the community wanted to see more police presence in the community, 87 percent believed that police presence in their local schools is valuable, and 73 percent believed that road safety is a concern in Belleville.
This entire process has been a tremendous experience for all the students who participated and worked alongside the Belleville Police Service. The survey ran smoothly from start to finish because of the great communication between Chief McMullan and second-year Police Foundations Coordinator Cecelia Reilly. We were thankful to be part of such a positive experience.
For information on the Police Foundations program, please contact Professor Reilly at creilly@loyalistc.on.ca or 613-969-1913 ext. 2227.