The Orillia OPP detachment has received a $175,000 grant from the province to help streamline handling of sexual assaults.
The Orillia OPP applied for a grant under the provincial government’s Community Safety and Policing Grant (CSP) program and found out recently it had been approved for approximately $175,000 over two years.
The Ontario government is providing the Orillia Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detachment with over $175,000 throughout the next two years through the Community Safety and Policing Grant to help combat crime and keep communities safe. pic.twitter.com/VBYNgXKK6Q
— Jill Dunlop, MPP (@JillDunlop1) January 25, 2021
While the Orillia Police Services Board (OSPB) and the local detachment are still in the process of finalizing an agreement with the province, a summary of the initiative has been posted on the Ministry of the Solicitor General’s website:
“The Orillia Ontario Provincial Police detachment will streamline its handling of sexual assault investigations in a victim-centered manner and hire a full-time officer to oversee the early stages of case management before handing over cases to the investigative team,” it says.
Funding from this grant (about $5,000) will also help develop a one-day workshop for detachment members on how to best manage sexual violence cases.
In addition, the grant (about $1,000) will be used to redesign and outfit the two interview rooms so that they provide a “hospitable environment” for victims when recounting their assaults.
The vast majority of the funding - about $169,000 - will be allocated to the salary of a sexual violence intake officer over the two-year program.
"This important investment will help ensure our frontline heroes continue to take action where, and when, it’s needed to keep us all safe,” said Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop in a media release.
"Our police services and their partners play a key role in maintaining public safety. They know what it takes to combat crime and hold offenders accountable," she added.
The grant to the Orillia OPP is part of the province’s plan to invest $2.8 million over two years through the CSP program.
According to a report coming to this week’s OPSB meeting, the province established the CSP grant program to support eligible police services/boards in combating crime and keeping Ontario communities safe.
In order to ensure that local and provincial priorities are being addressed, the CSP Grant offers two different funding streams – one focused on local priorities and the other addressing identified provincial priorities.
This $175,000 grant is through the provincial priorities funding stream. Projects funded under this stream and grant cycle are intended to focus on the following provincial priorities:
- Gun and gang violence;
- Sexual violence and harassment; and/or
- Human trafficking
