Niagara Regional Police Service

Niagara Regional Police Service
Niagara Regional Police Service
Motto	Unity, Loyalty, Responsibility
Agency overview
Formed	January 1, 1971
Operational structure
Headquarters	Niagara Falls, Ontario
Sworn members	650
Unsworn members	350
Elected officer responsible	The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services;
Agency executive	Jeff McGuire, Chief of Police;
Facilities
Divisions	6
Website
	Official website

The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) provides policing services for the Regional Municipality of Niagara in the Canadian province of Ontario.

NRPS was established on January 1, 1971 and is the oldest regional police service in Ontario. Its headquarters is located in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Organization

The NRPS provides all general policing duties in the region, including patrol of municipal/regional roads and waterways within the region, including the Welland Canal, the Niagara River and Lakes Ontario and Erie. Patrol of provincial highways in the region, such as the Queen Elizabeth Way, is handled by the Ontario Provincial Police, while patrol services on Niagara Parks Commission property is handled by the Niagara Parks Police Service. The NRPS is, however, mandated to investigate all major crimes in the region, including those that occur on provincial highways or on NPC property.

Police Chiefs

1. Albert E. Shennan January 1, 1971 - May 31, 1977
2. Donald Harris May 31, 1977 - December 31, 1983
3. James A. Gayder January 1, 1984 - March 4, 1987
4. John E. Shoveller August 31, 1987 - March 1, 1993
5. J. Grant Waddell March 1, 1993 - 2000
6. Gary E. Nicholls August 11, 2000 - January 1, 2005
7. Wendy E. Southall January 1, 2005 - June 18, 2012
8. Jeffrey McGuire June 18, 2012 – Present

Ranks & Insignia

1. Chief of Police - St. Edward's Crown and 3 Maple Leaves
2. Deputy Chief - St. Edward's Crown and 2 Maple Leaves
3. Superintendent - St. Edward's Crown
4. Inspector - 2 Maple Leaves
5. Staff Sergeant - St. Edwards Crown and 3 Chevrons
6. Sergeant - 3 Chevrons
7. Constable - No Insignia

Districts

The Niagara Regional Police Service is divided into six districts:

1 District - 68 Church Street, St. Catharines
2 District - 5700 Valley Way, Niagara Falls
3 District - 5 Lincoln Street West, Welland
5 District - 650 Gilmore Road, Fort Erie
6 District - 501 Fielden Avenue, Port Colborne
8 District - 45 Clark Street, Grimsby

Headquarters and Administrative offices are located at 5700 Valley Way, Niagara Falls, Ontario. Auxiliary and support services are located on Cushman Road in St. Catharines.

Units

The Niagara Regional Police Service is broken down into units of specific responsibility. Some of these units include

Auxiliary Police
Canine Unit
Child Abuse Unit
Court Services Unit
District Detective Offices
Domestic Violence Unit
Emergency Task Unit (ETU)
Explosives Disposal Unit
Forensic Services Unit
Central Fraud Unit
"Guns, Gangs and Grows" Unit
Homicide Unit
Marine Unit
Morality Unit
Policy and Risk Management Unit
Polygraph Unit
Professional Standards Unit
Sexual Assault Unit
Special Enforcement Unit
Special Investigative Services Unit
District Street Crime Units
Collision Reconstruction Unit
Underwater Search and Recovery
Uniform Patrol Officers
Victim Services / Youth Crime

Crest

St. Edward's Crown
ribbon containing the words Unity, Responsibility, Loyalty
the shield contains:
- a golden St. Edward's Crown
- two symbols with waves representing the Welland Canal
wreath of golden maple leaves
Trillium of Ontario

Fleet

A partial list of the Niagara Regional Police's fleet consists of the following:

Make	Origin	In service	Notes
Dodge Charger	Canada	2006–Present	Photo
Dodge Magnum	Canada	2006–Present	Photo
Ford Taurus	United States	2002–Present	Photo
Chevrolet Impala	Canada	2002–Present	Photo
Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor	Canada	1998–Present	Photo
Ford Freestar RIDE vehicle	Canada	2005–Present	Photo
Chrysler PT Cruiser community/education vehicle	Mexico	2003–2005	Photo
Chevrolet Tahoe	United States		Photo
Ford F350	United States		Photo
Ford Expedition	United States		Photo
Ford Explorer	United States		Photo
Jeep Cherokee	United States		Photo
Dodge Polara	United States	1970s	Retired, Photo
Chevrolet Caprice	Canada	1970s-1998	Retired

Following changes to the Ontario Highway Traffic Act in August 2007, the Niagara Regional Police Service began replacing red and white "Street Hawk" emergency lights on police vehicles with new blue and red LED lights. Older-style light bars were gradually phased out through attrition.

Niagara Regional Police Service marked patrol vehicles have historically been white in colour. In the late 1980s - early 1990's, they were distinguished with royal blue hoods and a single blue stripe on the sides of the vehicle. In the mid 1990s, the Service adopted the crest used today, switching to blue and green stripes on the sides of patrol vehicles, and abandoning the traditional blue hoods. This striping change was relatively short lived, with the Service soon adopting red and blue striping more commonly seen on police vehicles in Ontario. In 2013, the Niagara Regional Police Service commenced a dramatic re-branding of marked patrol vehicles, adopting a black and white colour scheme, with silver and red graphics, which is being phased in as vehicles are replaced through attrition.

Niagara Regional Police Service Pipes and Drums

The Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band is a grade three pipe band based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

The band's Pipe Major is Peter MacKenzie.

There was a grade 2 pipe band in existence until the end of the 2009 Season, led by Dave Goodall (Pipe Major) and Graham Kirkwood (Drum Sergeant), however, that group dissolved in Fall of 2009.

Niagara Regional Police Service Male Chorus

The Niagara Regional Police Service Male Chorus was formed in 1996 with the encouragement of the then Chief Grant Waddell to celebrate the force's twenty-fifth anniversary. With the sponsorship of Chief Waddell they were granted the right to perform, with distinctive pride, wearing the uniform of the Niagara Regional Police Service with flashes identifying them as their Male Chorus.

Under the musical direction of Dr Tom Inglis citizen volunteers, recruited from males over eighteen years of age, who like to sing, quickly established a reputation for excellence. In consequence from Police Memorial Services in both Ottawa and Toronto to such well known venues as Roy Thompson Hall, 100 Huntley Street, the People's Church, the World Rowing Championships and the USA/Canada Buffalo/Fort Erie Freedom Festival they have entertained on television.

But more importantly for the past fifteen years they have entertained the citizens of Niagara and southern Ontario, whenever asked to raise funds for charity and in churches, senior's homes, recreational halls, County Fairs and Festivals to sometimes standing ovation. They have produced five CD's containing show tunes, pop music medleys, gospel music and hymns that enjoy critical acclaim.

Celebrating its fifteenth year in conjunction with the fortieth year celebrations of the Niagara Regional Police Service the Niagara Regional Police Service Male Chorus continues to seek performance venues and new citizen volunteers to continue their reputation of excellence as they perform for the citizens of Niagara under the musical direction of Barbara Andrus with the full support of the present Chief Wendy Southall.

Niagara Regional Police Mounted Unit

Members of the mounted unit are part of the Force's Colour Guard.

There are three horses in the unit with 3 other horses retired. Only two of the three horses are owned by the NRP.

On November 25, 2010 the Niagara Regional Mounted Unit was disbanded for budgetary reasons. The annual budget of $30,000.00 used to care for the horses was redistributed elsewhere.

External links