Fredericton Police Force / St. Mary's First Nation Partnership (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

New Brunswick

City/ Region:

Fredericton

Description of Initiative:

Since community policing was introduced in the 1980s, the Fredericton Police Force (FPF) has worked diligently to form a good working relationship with St. Mary's First Nation (SMFN). We are proud to say that over the past several years, this relationship has strengthened and our officers work with SMFN members on a daily basis.

In 2000, we introduced a quadripartite agreement for policing SMFN. The agreement is between SMFN, the FPF, the Government of Canada, and the Province of New Brunswick. SMFN is serviced through a comprehensive contemporary community policing model which includes activities such as target patrols, problem solving and crime reduction efforts. SMFN is privy to all services offered by our agency. The service is audited annually, and the service quality level is consistent with policing practices throughout the city.

Initiative Key Objectives:

SMFN is located within the city of Fredericton and is policed by the FPF. Policing is provided through a quadripartite agreement between the federal government, the Province of New Brunswick, the City of Fredericton and SMFN. The FPF strives to provide a safe community through a contemporary community policing model. The force strives to provide:

  • increased visibility through the presence of our two SMFN officers;
  • increased involvement and participation in community events;
  • traffic enforcement; and
  • criminal and drug enforcement and education in SMFN.

Section Responsible for Implementation:

Neighbourhood Action Team

Key Contact:

Insp. Brian Ford
brian.ford@fredericton.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

  • community groups
  • other government departments/agencies

Level of Involvement (consultative - information sharing) and/or cooperative - direct involvement):

N/A

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

Since the early 1980s, the FPF has been providing policing services to SMFN through a contemporary community policing model.

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

This initiative was undertaken because SMFN is located within the city of Fredericton. The quadripartite agreement was struck to ensure that the same level of service is provided to all citizens of the city of Fredericton.

SMFN is located within the city of Fredericton on the north side of the Saint John River and has a population of approximately 767. On average, police officers respond to over 640 calls for service annually, generating approximately 240 written occurrences. Further to these statistics, it is important to know that SMFN is serviced through a comprehensive contemporary community policing model which includes activities such as target patrols, problem solving and crime reduction efforts. SMFN is privy to all services our agency has to offer. The quality of service is consistent with policing practices throughout the city of Fredericton.

In 2000, the first quadripartite agreement was signed between SMFN, the FPF, the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

N/A

Method of Implementation:

N/A

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

Best practices identified:

SMFN Officer Visibility—The FPF currently has two officers assigned to SMFN on a full-time basis as per the quadripartite agreement. The officers are assigned through the Neighbourhood Action Team and they have an office in the SMFN band hall. There is a marked police cruiser presence, and foot patrols at the Kchikhusis Commercial Centre, Chief Harold Sappier Memorial Elementary School, medical centre, bingo hall and band hall.

Community Events and Involvement—SMFN officers have been involved in a number of community activities and other initiatives, including: the SMFN Pow-Wow; March break activities with youth; education about residential schools; SMYLE (St. Mary's Youth Leadership Enrichment); Kids & Kops; Aboriginal Awareness Day; and initiatives to improve the relationship with SMFN Security.

We also partner with the Native Friendship Centre, which, for over the past three years, has set up an educational booth in front of police headquarters on Queen Street, to raise cultural awareness of First Nations. This is coordinated through our Multicultural Liaison Officer. We also have new First Nations representation on our Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee, which meets quarterly.

Traffic Enforcement—Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) enforcement has been an important program for SMFA. We have educated the community that the same MVA rules apply for SMFN as they do in the greater community. This positive approach has yielded good results. The residents of SMFN want to keep their streets safe for their children. MVA enforcement includes road blocks, which have caused disruption to known drug houses, and snowmobile patrol.

Criminal/Drug Enforcement and Education—Operation Link resulted in four drug warrants being executed in SMFN. Ongoing drug awareness education continues to be provided for parents. Other activities include participation in restorative justice, and crime reduction work through initiatives such as our Prolific & Priority Offenders list and Report a Drug House program.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

No

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

N/A

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

  • social return on investment
  • annual audit of the quadripartite agreement

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

No

Summary of the Outcomes:

The program is continually changing and adapting to the identified needs of the community. Through quarterly meetings between the SMFN Band and the FPF, initiatives and areas of concern are identified. The community office, staffed by two police officers, is open to everyone.

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

N/A

Economics of Policing Pillars:

Further Details:

N/A

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

N/A

Record Entry Date:

2015-03-01

Date modified: