Community Safety Enforcement Unit
Members of the Community Safety Enforcement Unit (CSEU) gather intelligence through foot patrols and contact with the general public, to address criminal activity. They identify, montior and investigate community speciific crimes such as mischief, graffiti, stolen vehicles, theft and arson. They provide support, including surveillance, to other specialized sections and patrols as needed. And, they also enforce statuatory laws and refer community members in need to the appropriate social agencies.
In addition, the CSUE attends and assists with a variety of community events, including Bar Town Days, Coal Bowl, and Red Cup.
Criminal Analyst
The position of Criminal Analyst is integral to the CBPRS intelligent-led model of policing, for the investigation and prevention of crime based on trends in our community.
The Criminal Analyst gathers, monitors and analyzes crime data to identify any patterns and highlight the issues and the repeat offenders. With this information, the CBRPS can manage resources more effectively, according to where they're needed, using targeted, focused crime prevention and enforcement. The Analyst also provides assistance to ongoing investigations.
Emergency Response Team
The Emergency Response Team (ERT) is the tactical unit of the CBRPS, consisting of 18 officers specially trained to deal with high-risk situations such as weapons incidents, hostage taking, barricaded person, emotionally disturbed persons, high-risk arrests and warrants, and protection details.
ERT is on-call and available to assist citizens in the CBRM 24-hours per day, 7 days per week; the officers are integrated into our daily patrol assignments so they can respond as an immediate-action team when needed.
The teams train at their Central Division station as well as at various other locations within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM).
In order to serve the CBRM better, the ERT maintains a close working relationship with other police tactical teams including the Toronto Police Service Emergency Task Force (ETF).
K-9 Unit
Three Police Service Dog teams (consisting of one dog and one handler) provide support and assistance to a variety of CBRPS operations, including patrols, drug enforcement and emergency response. The K-9 Unit helps locate missing persons; track lost or stolen items; detect illegal drugs, firearms and ammunition; and, track and arrest criminal suspects.
The K-9 Unit is also an important part of community policing, conducting presentations to elementary school students and encouraging interaction between them and police officers.
CBRPS Police Service Dogs are all German Shepherds from Europe. Once chosen to become a member of the K-9 Unit, a dog must go through extensive training to prove its suitability for police work. Over the course of 12-16 weeks, the dog completes a series of tests related to tracking persons, conducting searches, locating articles and detecting illegal substances.
Marine Unit & Dive Team
The Marine Unit works to keep CBRM waterways safe, conducting patrols, enforcing laws - under the Criminal Code, the Canada Shipping Act the Small Craft Vessel Regulations and the Marine Collision Regulations - and promoting water and boating safety. They operate several vehicles, including a 30-foot Rosborough and two GTX Sea Doos, and work in conjunction with the RCMP, Canadian Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans, Search and Rescue, Transport Canada and Canada Customs.
Key to the operations of the Marine Unit is the Dive Team. The members are responsible for the search and recovery of drowned persons and submerged evidence; photographing and documenting details of underwater crime scenes; and assisting with water-related investigations, such as swimming, diving, boating and industrial accidents.
Before becoming a member of the Dive Team, officers must meet certain qualifications and go through intensive training. Members must be a certified scuba diver, pass the annual medical examination and meet guidelines under the Canadian Labour Code and Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety. Team members train for two days every month, at different locations and under various conditions, to simulate realistic incidents. They practice scuba diving techniques, full face and dry suit diving, underwater crime scene analysis, explosive recognition, search and recovery procedures, small craft operations, emergency first aid and CPR.
Mental Health Liaison Officer
In partnership with the Cape Breton District Health Authority (CBDHA), the CBRPS has once officer dedicated as a Mental Health Liaison Officer to provide training and education, and facilitate a collaborative approach to addressing the needs of those with mental illness.
One of the main duties of the Mental Health Liaison Officer is to provide all officers with Critical Intervention Team (CIT) Training, a model of response for law enforcement officers to provide the most effective police response possible to individuals experiencing mental illness. It provides officers with the ability to recognize an individual with a mental illness and how to handle specific situations involveing these individuals. The increased understanding and skills enhances officer safety and the safety of individuals and communities.
Through the Mental Health Liaison Officer, the CBRPS and CBDHA are working together to decrease the criminalization of individuals living with mental illness and connect them with the resources they need to live well and safely in the community.
Public Safety Unit
The 30+ members of the Public Safety Unit (PSU) have specialized training to provide public safety, peacefully and professionally, during large events and incidents of civil unrest. They manage crowds at events such as concerts, labour disputes and blockades by mingling with people in attendance and building a positive relationship before the possibility of trouble arises.
In situations where there is potential for altercation or violence, the PSU has specialized equipment to wear over their regular uniform. “Hatch gear” similar to hockey or football gear and includes a specialized helmet and boots, in addition to chest, arm, hand and leg protection.
The PSU has peacefully resolved several incidents, both small and large. Members have also assisted with large-scale events outside of our jurisdiction, including former President Bush's visit to Halifax and the 2010 G8 and G20 Summits in Toronto.
School Liaison Officers
Through a partnership with the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board, the CBRPS assigns police officers to work in schools throughout the CBRM to help ensure a positive and safe learning environment for students.
School Liaison Officers regularly patrol halls and school grounds, participate in school activities and programs and conduct class presentations on topics including drug and alcohol abuse, dating violence, and online bullying. The officers work closely with the Principal and school staff, and build relationships with the students to promote positive behaviours. This proactive approach helps prevent problems from arising; when they do, the officers are there to address and resolve them in a quick and peaceful manner, working with students, parents and school staff on a solution that best meets the needs of everyone involved.
School Liaison Officers are currently assigned to Sherwood Park Education Centre, Oceanview Education Centre, Malcolm Munroe Junior High, Sydney Academy, Riverview High School, Memorial High School, Glace Bay High School and Breton Education Centre.
Traffic Safety Unit
The officers of the Traffic Safety Unit work to keep CBRM roadways safe, with a focus on both prevention and enforcement. They educate the public and enforce laws under the Motor Vehicle Act, Motor Vehicle Inspection Regulstions, Off-Highway Vehicle Act, and the Criminal Code of Canada. These officers are also called upon to investigate motor vehicle collisions involving serious injury or death and coordinate traffic control for parades and other community events.
Traffic Safety Officers are trained as Breathalizyer Technicians, Data Master Technicians, Drug Recognition Experts, Radar Operators and Collision Analysts. They can be seen patrolling in marked and unmarked police vehicles and motorcycles, all equipped with radar units and the tools necessary to carry out duties and investigations. Officers also use ATVs and dual purpose motorcycles as needed.
Partnerships are key to maintaining safe roadways; the Traffic Safety Unit carries out its duties in conjunction with the Cape Breton Central Nova Railway, CBRM Engineering and Public Works, the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation, Nova Scotia Vehicle Compliance Officers and RCMP Traffic Services.
UN Civilian Police
A total of 22 members of the CBRPS have participated in 24 peacekeeping missions through the International Peace Operations Branch – in Kosovo, Siera Leone, East Timor, Jordan and Afghanistan. In addition, five CBRPS officers have served on NATO and Peacekeeping missions through the Canadian military.
The RCMP manages the deployment of Canadian police, including planning and evaluating missions, selecting and training personnel from across the country and providing support throughout deployment.
Canadian police who serve abroad come from municipal, provincial and regional police forces as well as the RCMP, and represent a variety of backgrounds. They play widely varying roles within each mission, from patrolling streets and training police recruits to providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring security for elections and investigating human rights violations.
Serving on a mission can help police officers improve their leadership and problem-solving skills as well as their ability to interact effectively with people from various cultures. In the end, this also benefits their police agency and the communities they serve.
The International Peace Operations Commemorative Coin was created by the RCMP Peace Operations Branch to recognize the contributions of all Canadian police officers who have participated in peace missions overseas. The coins are to be a proud reminder of the tremendous contributions these officers have made in the service of peace. With this coin, our members become part of a unique group of Canadian police officers who have shared in an experience that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
For further information, please visit the RCMP International Peace Operations Branch website.
Lock-Up
The Cape Breton Regional Police Lock-up facility holds prisoners awaiting a court appearance or a release on bail. On average, there are about seven prisoners in lock-up during a 12 hour shift. The facility is run by the CBRPS jailers, whose main priority is to ensure the safety of the prisoners and the guards. Jailers conduct a search as soon as someone is arrested and taken to lock-up, and they ask prisoners a series of questions to correctly identify the individual. Jailers also play an important role in investigations, often gathering as information from prisoners that can be shared with investigating officers.
Prisoners who must remain in custody after 24 hours are remanded to the Cape Breton Correctional Centre.
