Deputy Chief Shirley Hilton Announces Retirement
Dear Members,
It is with mixed feelings that I write to you today to inform you of my decision to retire from the Waterloo Regional Police Service.
While this has not been an easy decision to make, after 33 years of policing I have realized it is the right decision and the right time for me.
My career has been filled with many great opportunities that came with its share of challenges, pressures and demands. However, it also came with so many fond memories, experiences, and friendships that will remain with me for many years to come.
I wish to acknowledge and thank the Police Services Board for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your Deputy Chief for the past two and a half years.
I also want to recognize and thank members of the Senior Leadership Team, Staff Superintendent John Goodman and Chief Mark Crowell for their support and guidance over the past several years.
I am grateful to all residents of Waterloo Region who provided me with the opportunity to serve them over the past three decades.
Those years would not have been so fulfilling if not for you – the members of WRPS. You are exceptional people doing exceptional work every single day and I know you will continue to lead, flourish and succeed throughout your own personal journey.
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This week, Deputy Hilton had the opportunity to sit down with CTV News to reflect on her career.
Click on the image below to view the full interview.
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60th International Police Hockey Tournament
The Waterloo Regional Police Service and Waterloo Regional Police Association are hosting the 60th International Police Hockey Tournament. The tournament is a three‐day, not‐for‐profit event that brings together law enforcement from across Canada and the United States.
Approximately 100 teams will attend from February 22 to February 24, 2023. The tournament will be held at local arenas and it is anticipated that it could bring over 1,500 players, families, and friends to Kitchener/Waterloo and surrounding areas.
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Volunteers Needed for Citizens Police Academy
The spring 2023 Citizens Police Academy begins on February 9, 2023, and we're looking for volunteers to help make this another successful program. Volunteer facilitators are required for this 12-week program which runs every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. until April 27.
A minimum commitment of six weeks is required with an ability to interact and socialize with community participants.
If you are interested in volunteering for the Citizens Police Academy, contact Catherine Conoboy by January 27. |
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DEMS Updates
The Modernization Team is pleased to announce two new updates.
Click on the above links to view the full updates.
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Your Community Thanks You |
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"Happy new year to you all. Thank you for your service and to those officers who are working tonight, please stay safe on the road. You're all amazing and go above and beyond to protect us."
"The dispatch I spoke with was incredibly understanding, calm, collected, and helpful, and walked me through the process of cancelling the call with incredible patience. Thank you!"
"The lady who answered the non-emergency line was very helpful. The officer that was assigned to my call called back quicker than I expected and was very understanding of the situation. She called me back a short time later to provide an update and explain the next steps. She was very thorough in her investigation and answered all my questions."
"Police officer Taylor Abbas was very supportive and helpful."
"Thank you to the officer who didn't have to stop as he drove by my house, but did so to warn me about the roads and to be safe driving as I was cleaning off my car. Be safe, sir!"
"A huge shoutout to fire, paramedics, and police for supporting us in our distribution centre last week to raise awareness about the incredible First Responders to Food Bank 365 program. Your commitment to helping neighbours in need is much appreciated!"
"Officer C. Moore was very kind, professional, and reassuring. Thank you for your service."
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Recognizing Nancy Widish and Jeannine Chapeskie
This week, we would like to recognize two of our members who’ve shown great dedication for continuous improvement across the Police Service, Nancy Widish and Jeannine Chapeskie.
Nancy, Program and Project Analyst (Administrative Support Branch), has served with us for the past 12 years and Jeannine Chapeskie in Strategic Services for the past 15 years.
Recently, Nancy completed her Green Belt Certification for Lean Six Sigma (LSS) to further enhance her commitment to organizational efficiency, and Jeannine has assumed the role of Acting Manager of Strategic Services to lead the unit over the next several months. Jeannine also has her Blackbelt in LSS and has been coaching Green Belts since 2018.
Both of these hard-working individuals have proven their commitment to continuous improvement across the organization after successfully leading a number of projects. Some of these projects include Live Reporting, Electronic Report to Justice Process, and more recently, the implementation of the Centralized Disclosure Team.
Together, they collaborate regularly on process improvement and are both excellent resources for members to learn about continuous improvement, as well as drive their own professional development towards building this important skill set.
We encourage all members to reach out to Nancy or Jeannine to learn more if you are interested in participating in continuous improvement initiatives throughout the Service. Together, we can all have a say in positive change.
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Support for Constable Jesse Hoffman
Thanks to the amazing generosity of our members and the Waterloo Regional Police Association, over $21,000 was raised in support of Constable Jesse Hoffman after an accident left him with serious injuries and months spent in the hospital recovering. Jesse, all the best on the road to recovery, we can't wait to see you back on the road!
Message from Constable Jesse Hoffman:
To my WRPS family:
Over the past 6 months, I have learned that life can change in a split second; that something you have can be taken away from you in the blink of an eye. I’ve learned that literally and figuratively you can lose a part of yourself. It is during this season of loss that you define yourself. I am humbled and beyond grateful that my ability to define myself as a whole, is greatly attributed to the selfless care, support, and generosity of my WRPS family.
Thank you all for sharing the weight of my burden.
Sincerely,
Jesse Hoffman
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Get Freezin' For a Reason
It is time to get freezin' for a reason!
Registration for the Polar Plunge in support of Special Olympics Ontario is now open.
Take the plunge with us on March 4, 2023, at the Children's Safety Village. Register as a team or an individual.
Thank you to team 'Up to Snow Good' (GIU) who has already raised over $1,500!
Are you up for the challenge?
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50th Anniversary Art Contest for Kids
In celebration of our 50th anniversary this year, we want to hear from children (aged 4 to 10) across Waterloo Region.
Members and community members are welcome to send us their children's drawings of what policing means to them for a chance to win a prize! Entries can be sent via email, mail, or dropped off in person (to Jen Condick or the Public Information Office).
Entries will be displayed at our Open House in May.
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Between January 6 and January 8, 2023, officers arrested and charged nine impaired drivers throughout the Region of Waterloo.
Thank you for your commitment to road safety and ensuring community members get to their destinations safely.
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Read about some of our latest investigations:
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Police Chief Reports Rise in Shootings in Waterloo Region Last Year
Waterloo Region's police chief is raising concerns over an uptick in violent crime.
"When we focus on shootings, there was a pretty dramatic increase," said WRPS Chief Mark Crowell. "We had in total 25 shootings in Waterloo Region last year... and compared to 2021, we had 16. We have to be careful with year-over-year stats; but that's 25 shootings with real firearms in our community and significant concerns from our standpoint that there's a proliferation of weapons on the streets and commissions of offences."
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Check out the latest items in the Members Collection.
You may be asked to enter a password. Please use: 19732018
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New youth t-shirts now in stock! |
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Special Olympics Canine Puppy
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How many road safety charges did the Service lay in 2022?
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Congratulations to last week's winner, Courtney Woodason, Records, who answered the trivia question. In December 2022, the Special Victims Unit took on 96 new investigations.
If you would like to submit a question for the Trivia Challenge, send it to [email protected].
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Seven new officers took their oath of office during the badge ceremony on January 6, 2023. |
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We are looking to highlight our members in the internal and external WRPS Express newsletter. Please let us know if you - or someone you know - would like to be featured!
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Want to have a say in WRPS Express?
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The submission deadline is 4 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the Friday's distribution.
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