Communities are about people and so is Barrie’s downtown core.
Business owners ply their trades while residents and visitors come to shop and enjoy the eateries, making their way along streets buzzing with activity this time of year.
But they aren’t the only people taking in the downtown.
So are Barrie’s finest, be it on foot or on their two-wheeled cruisers.
Having officers front and centre on the roadways and sidewalks, day and night, is key, according to Barrie police Sgt. Angie Butler.
The 19-year veteran of the force is one of the supervisors who oversee the department’s community response unit (CRU), which concentrates its efforts mostly on the downtown area.
“We’re here to engage the community, build relationships with the business owners and the residents that live down here, but also to communicate and talk with the marginalized people,” she says from the Barrie police department's downtown office at the bus station on Maple Avenue.
Being seen and being available to help is a big part of the CRU’s mandate, Butler says.
“You could be in your (cruiser) and drive up and down Dunlop Street every day, but people don’t recognize you driving in a car,” she says. “But they do recognize you when you’re on foot and you’re stopping to talk and riding by on your bike going through all those little nooks and crannies we have in a city of this age.
“I introduce myself by my first name because that’s one thing we have in common; we’re all human.”
Butler says it’s important business owners, residents and the marginalized all work together.
“We can’t address any issues we might be having or build relationships with the community if we’re not engaging with them,” she says. “And that’s important. Our CRU members know most of the people down here on a first name basis and that’s how it works. They give us helpful information and vice versa.
“I believe we are making a positive difference.”
So does Randy, who did not want his last name used.
The slightly dishevelled but eloquent 53-year-old used to be homeless, but says he got a hand up from some officers.
“I’m doing a lot better than I was. I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for the them,” he says while standing in the shade at Five Points. “I was down at my lowest and they helped me pick myself up from being homeless and ready to say the heck with everything.
“Now I’ve got an apartment and I’m just playing it day-by-day,” Randy says. “(Two officers) were there from the beginning and they never judged me. To this day, (one of them) will pull over and ask ‘Are you OK, bud?’ he says, ‘Good. I just one to make sure you’re moving in the right direction’.”
But officers also have a job to do, Butler says.
“We enforce the laws around any criminal activity that’s here. We don’t walk away from that. But there’s another side to that as well,” she adds. “We work really hard to deal with any criminality that may happen but we also work really hard to help people.”
Tracey Baker, owner of Zu Zu Fashion Boutique on Dunlop Street East, appreciates the police presence.
“They’re our friends. They stop in to see us to make sure everything is OK,” she said. “I’ve had issues here in the shop and they’ve always been very responsive. They’re friendly and very easy to get a hold of.”
Police are an important part of community, Baker adds.
“We all, at some point, will need some support from them,” she says. “They know what’s going on and we know they are here looking out for us and building relationships with all different types of individuals who are present in the downtown community.”
Butler says the CRU is “passionate” about the downtown and working very hard to make it safe and enjoyable.
“There’s different dynamics different times of the day and the night. If someone’s had too much to drink and we can encourage them to go home, we’ll do that too,” she says.
“We have such an amazing set of factors down here: great people, great businesses,” Butler adds. “Yes, there are some things facing every downtown across the country but there’s a lot of good people here and it’s important to help people and have that mutual respect for people and know what their lot in life is.”
