Niagara Regional Police Service
| Niagara Regional Police Service | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the Niagara Regional Police Service | |
| Motto | Unity, Loyalty, Responsibility |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | January 1, 1971 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| General nature |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | St. Catharines, 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 St. Catharines.
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 - 4343 Morrison Street, 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 110 James Street in Downtown St. Catharines. 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.
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