“Having a community police officer really helped reduce the rate of crime in Crescent Valley.”
That is Anne Driscoll, Executive Director of the Crescent Valley Resource Center, on the value of having
a Community Relations Officer in the big blue building.
Constable Jocelyn McLean’s term ends this month and she will not be replaced because of cuts to the police force.
Our newsroom asked Driscoll if losing this position will undo many years of work to build trust between police and the community.
She says the police officer’s presence is such a positive thing here and if it’s not in Crescent Valley or in any of the other priority neighbourhoods then maybe there is a little less accountability on the part of some of the residents so it’s a definite loss.
Driscoll says Crescent Valley is a bit unique because it’s home to more than 50 Syrian families who were fearful of the police at first.
She says having a female officer has been a double win because children and newcomer adults are seeing a woman in a position of authority.
