City of Kingston Implements New Special Constable Program

By Aara Macauley, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Paige Agnew, the City's Commissioner of Growth & Development Services and Kyle Compeau, Director, Licensing & Enforcement Services for the City of Kingston presented City Council with an outline of the roles and objectives - along with a sneak peak at the uniform design - of the new Municipal Special Constable Program, which will begin its roll out with eight personnel on July 1st.

Described as a targeted, support-based enhancement to existing enforcement services, the Special Constable Program will offer direct support to by-law officers in the field. In its pilot year, the program will focus on three areas: enforcement support within municipal parks, direct support to bylaw officers, and increased visibility in high demand areas where community concerns have been consistently raised such as weekend events downtown, statutory holidays, and what the report describe as “emerging or trending areas of concern identified through public complaints, calls for service, and operational intelligence” in order to “support proactive engagement, deter non-compliant behaviour, and provide reassurance to residents, businesses, and visitors within the community.”

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