Thunder Bay Police Service
Encyclopedia
The Thunder Bay Police Service is the police force for the city of Thunder Bay
and municipality of Oliver Paipoonge
, Ontario
, Canada
, a service area of 679 km² (262.2 sq mi) with a population of 114,897. The force has 222 sworn officers, 198 per 100,000 people, which is 6 more than the provincial average of 192. The Chief Constable
is J. P. Levesque.
The force is governed by the Police Services Act of Ontario
, under which a five member civilian "Police Services Board" is responsible for the Thunder Bay Police and is chaired by a municipal appointee. The board chair
is councillor Joe Virdiramo, and other members include mayor Keith Hobbs
, Allan Laakkonen
, Debra Johnsen, and Jackie Dojack. Its secretary is John Hannam.
and Fort William
and their respective police forces. The force was originally headquartered in the Fort William Police station, which is now the home of the Thunder Bay Historical Museum
. The headquarters was relocated to 1200 Balmoral Street in 1987 and the entire agency was under one roof by 1993. The 9-1-1
emergency service was implemented in the summer of 1986.
Uniform patrol includes an emergency task unit/containment team and K9 Unit
. Criminal investigation includes street gang, property crime
, crime scene
, and fraud
units, an intelligence section and a crime analyst
. Neighbourhood policing centres are located in both of Thunder Bay's urban cores and in six suburban neighbourhoods.
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
and municipality of Oliver Paipoonge
Oliver Paipoonge, Ontario
Oliver Paipoonge is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located directly west of the city of Thunder Bay. The municipality was formed on January 1, 1998, with the amalgamation of the former Township of Oliver and Township of Paipoonge...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, a service area of 679 km² (262.2 sq mi) with a population of 114,897. The force has 222 sworn officers, 198 per 100,000 people, which is 6 more than the provincial average of 192. The Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
is J. P. Levesque.
The force is governed by the Police Services Act of Ontario
Police Services Act of Ontario
The Police Services Act of Ontario is a provincial act governing the conduct of police officers in the Canadian province of Ontario. This legislation is within the responsibility of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services...
, under which a five member civilian "Police Services Board" is responsible for the Thunder Bay Police and is chaired by a municipal appointee. The board chair
Chair
A chair is a stable, raised surface used to sit on, commonly for use by one person. Chairs are most often supported by four legs and have a back; however, a chair can have three legs or could have a different shape depending on the criteria of the chair specifications. A chair without a back or...
is councillor Joe Virdiramo, and other members include mayor Keith Hobbs
Keith Hobbs (politician)
Keith Hobbs is a Canadian politician, who was elected mayor of Thunder Bay, Ontario in the 2010 municipal election.Prior to his term in political office, Hobbs served as a member of the Thunder Bay Police for 34 years....
, Allan Laakkonen
Allan Laakkonen
Allan Laakkonen was city councillor for Red River Ward in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada from 2003 to 2006. He was one of the driving forces behind Thunder Bay's bid for the 1995 Nordic World Ski Championships....
, Debra Johnsen, and Jackie Dojack. Its secretary is John Hannam.
History
Thunder Bay Police was formed in 1970, a result of the amalgamation of the cities of Port ArthurPort Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario which amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Port Arthur was the district seat of Thunder Bay District.- History :...
and Fort William
Fort William, Ontario
Fort William was a city in Northern Ontario, located on the Kaministiquia River, at its entrance to Lake Superior. It amalgamated with Port Arthur and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Ever since then it has been the largest city in Northwestern...
and their respective police forces. The force was originally headquartered in the Fort William Police station, which is now the home of the Thunder Bay Historical Museum
Thunder Bay Historical Museum
The Thunder Bay Historical Museum is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It is operated by the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, incorporated in 1972 as the successor to the Thunder Bay Historical Society....
. The headquarters was relocated to 1200 Balmoral Street in 1987 and the entire agency was under one roof by 1993. The 9-1-1
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
emergency service was implemented in the summer of 1986.
Branches
The force is made up of six branches: administration, uniform patrol, criminal investigation, neighourhood policing, resource centre, and traffic.Uniform patrol includes an emergency task unit/containment team and K9 Unit
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
. Criminal investigation includes street gang, property crime
Property crime
Property crime is a category of crime that includes, among other crimes, burglary, larceny, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, shoplifting, and vandalism. Property crime only involves the taking of money or property, and does not involve force or threat of force against a victim...
, crime scene
Crime scene
A crime scene is a location where an illegal act took place, and comprises the area from which most of the physical evidence is retrieved by trained law enforcement personnel, crime scene investigators or in rare circumstances, forensic scientists....
, and fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
units, an intelligence section and a crime analyst
Crime analysis
Crime analysis is a law enforcement function that involves systematic analysis for identifying and analyzing patterns and trends in [crime] and disorder. Information on patterns can help law enforcement agencies deploy resources in a more effective manner, and assist detectives in identifying and...
. Neighbourhood policing centres are located in both of Thunder Bay's urban cores and in six suburban neighbourhoods.