Annual Report-2009-Cover.indd - York Regional Police

People opened their homes to neighbours,
offering food, clothing and shelter to those
displaced by the storm.
“We had 2,500 to 3,000 displaced people
following the storms and found they didn’t need
the evacuation facilities,” said York Regional
Police Chief Armand La Barge. “It just speaks
to the real sense of community in these areas.”
While officers and volunteers worked the
scene of the disaster, another team was
working diligently 20 kilometres away at York
Regional Police headquarters in Newmarket.
Communications Bureau staff took hundreds
of emergency calls from panicked residents,
dispatched officers and cars where needed
and logged and shared vital information. In
a three-hour period between 6 and 9 p.m.,
Communications Bureau staff received close
to 500 emergency 9-1-1 calls related to the
Vaughan tornadoes – the same number of calls
received during an average 12-hour shift.
Many hearts and hands came together that day
to help City of Vaughan residents struggling
with the results of the unexpected disaster.
Communications staff, Auxiliary Unit officers,
civilian members, staff at Vaughan Fire and
Rescue Services and the municipality all worked
in unison to help those in need.
But it was the fast response of #4 District staff,
those working in uniform who stayed hours
past the end of their shift to assist, detectives in
GRAVES ROBBED FOR SCRAP METAL
In a heartless crime spree that upset many
residents, more than 650 bronze vases and 16
bronze headstones were stolen from gravesites
and sold for $7,000 to a scrap metal dealer.
A month-long investigation in September
2009 by officers in the #4 District Criminal
Investigation Bureau resulted in the recovery
of approximately 5,000 pounds of metal. The
items were recovered before being shipped
overseas and officers notified affected families
and held a public display so grateful relatives
could recover their stolen property.
Three men were arrested in connection with the
thefts, with two charged with Theft Over $5,000
and the third, the scrap metal dealer, charged
with Possession of Stolen Property.
the Criminal Investigation Bureau who changed
from plainclothes to uniform so residents could
easily identify them and those officers in the
Community Oriented Response Unit, whose
knowledge of existing community resources
proved invaluable, who made an incredible
impact that day.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way #4
District officers responded to this disaster,”
said Superintendent Tony Cusimano. “Their
dedication and commitment to the safety of our
community, in the face of a major catastrophe,
was nothing short of inspiring.”
The City of Vaughan’s 20 th Anniversary Winterfest was a great success. The outdoor cruiser display is always a crowd
pleaser, the indoor display proved popular and the on-site attendance of YRP and Auxiliary officers was greatly
appreciated.
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Keeping Our Deeds Community Speak
Safe Together