Category: Community Messages

The Brockville Police Service are receiving increased reports involving online rental scams and frauds. The typical scam involves a Kijiji advertisement claiming to have a property for rent. The victim makes contact and then is asked to forward a portion of the rent via E-Transfer, or Money Wire Transfer. The victim will eventually determine that the property is not for rent and is often unable to recover the funds sent. Brockville Police are asking the public to consider the following in an effort to prevent becoming a victim of these scams.

Advice for Renters:

– Avoid ads that are “too good to be true.” Ads for apartments or houses with rents significantly below market value are almost always lures used by scam artists. Check other listings in the general area and see what the going rates for rentals are before responding.

– Always see the rental in person before sending any money or providing personal information such as your social insurance number, or driver’s licence number, even if it’s just to fill out an application. It is NOT recommended to do business with an overseas landlord unless you have personally verified their identity and that they actually own the rental advertised.

– Dealing locally is best. The safest way to deal is in person and face to face. Be suspicious of the prospective landlord only wants to communicate using electronic means, is currently out of the country or residing overseas or far from where the apartment is located. Be extremely suspicious of a perspective landlord who refuses to talk on the phone or claims they cannot talk on the phone.

– Exercise extreme caution before wiring deposits or rent payments, especially to foreign countries. Money transferred overseas is very difficult to recover from fraudulent schemes and will likely result in a losing all of it. Electronic money transfers and specifically wire transfer services are very popular for Internet scams because the funds are available instantly, untraceably and worldwide.

– Scan any attachments from landlords with anti-virus software before opening. One of the latest scams involves a “landlord” e-mailing an unsuspecting renter additional photos of the apartment for lease. However, one or more of the e-mail attachments contains a virus that can fool your Web browser to make it appear as though you’re going to a legitimate site but in fact are being sent to a site controlled by the scammer. The best way to protect yourself is by using commercial anti-virus software, keeping it up to date and by scanning all e-mail attachments before opening or double-clicking them.

For more information on Fraudulent Rental Scams:

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/

Internet Fraud Complaint Center: http://www.ic3.gov

Leeds Grenville Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P), Brockville Police Service, Gananoque Police Service, Lanark Leeds & Grenville Addictions & Mental Health, and Leeds & Grenville Mental Health Crisis Team are joining together to provide the public with an information session around mental health services available in the Leeds Grenville area.

The session is being held during Mental Illness Awareness week as part of the 38 recommendations from the 2014 Coroner’s Inquest into the death of Matthew Roke. The information session will provide the public with information regarding services available for persons suffering mental illness as well as how to access these services.

The session will also provide information regarding how to navigate the mental health system as a caregiver of a person suffering mental illness.

There will be a presentation around a personal experience with mental illness and the mental health system.

The information session will include:

• Partnerships demonstrating a proactive approach to dealing with mental illness presented by Lanark Leeds & Grenville Addictions & Mental Health, Leeds Grenville Mental Health Crisis Team, Leeds Grenville O.P.P and Brockville Police Service.
• Mental Health Diversion and Services presented by Lanark Leeds & Grenville Addictions & Mental Health, and Leeds Grenville Mental Health Crisis Team.
• Training provided to first responders presented by Brockville Police Service.
• Hospital involvement and care presented by Brockville General Hospital.
• Available Support Systems presented by Lanark Leeds & Grenville Addictions & Mental Health.
• The Mental Health Act presented by Brockville Police Service.
• Leeds & Grenville Mental Health Crisis Team presented by Leeds & Grenville Mental Health Crisis Team.

Please join us on Thursday October 6^th from 6 pm to 8 pm at the 1000 Islands Mall in Brockville, ON, in the Community Room next to Sears.

Community Reminder

Pokeman Go is becoming a very popular activity for people to engage in.  We are experiencing phone calls at our Service in regards to folks trespassing and being in all areas of the city at late hours.  Please respect the property of others and understand that Officers may speak to you if found in areas at night normally vacant of pedestrian or vehicle traffic.  People are getting hurt due to being distracted as well.  The Brockville Police have not received calls resulting in harm to anyone but other media outlets have reported these incidents.

It is with great pride that the Brockville Police Services Board would like to congratulate Chief Scott Fraser on being awarded the International Leadership Award by the FBINAA of NYS and East Canada Chapter at their recent conference.

Chief Fraser serves as a significant leader in our community and inspires those around him with his energy and positive attitude.  He is highly respected within the community for his dedication and professionalism in leading a progressive police service in the City of Brockville.  Chief Fraser is compassionate and exudes confidence and leadership to the numerous community committees and organizations he participates with.

Chief Fraser is a graduate of the 226th Session FBI National Academy.

Thank you for taking the time to review our 2015 Annual Report.  I am happy to report that 2015 saw tremendous change within the Brockville Police organization.  As a result of everyone’s hard work and sacrifices we ended 2015 with a surplus in our operational budget.  We also continued to build our criminal record check business which resulted in a surplus of several hundred thousand dollars.  It is very important to understand that policing and preparing a budget for law enforcement is a difficult task.  In spending dollars in prevention we attempt to offset expenses that are derived after a critical incident or violent offence.  Violent offences such as homicides are very expensive to investigate and are too important to spare an expense.  2015 in Brockville was consistent with the national trend of a decrease in violent offences. Those who are unaware will state that as a result of decreased violent offences policing budgets should decrease.  In reality, social disorder offences and police response to mental health calls have skyrocketed.  As funding is removed from areas such as healthcare and social services, police services are forced to perform tasks which should be handled by others.  Unfortunately, if people only speak of the bottom dollar, policing will continue to be subject of criticism.  The Brockville Police Services community involvement and investment in youth and crime prevention may cost money now, but will undoubtedly save in the future.  Thanks again for taking the time to review our annual report 2015 Annual Report

When no rain has fallen for a period of time, things get slippery when it finally starts again.

A film develops on the roadways that is lifted by the rain and creates a hydroplane effect when braking.  Applying brakes quickly can cause a drifting type feeling.

Brockville Police encourage drivers to slow down and leave extra distance for stopping.

The Brockville Police Community Volunteers are a dedicated group of people serving the community of Brockville.

Volunteers will help out at community functions, aid with police booths at events such as Ribfest, help with barricades at parades, walk the beat, perhaps helping tourists with questions and at festivals. Other roles might include helping out at the police service’s front desk or handing out brochures.

Volunteers will have a police vehicle, clearly marked as belonging to the volunteer program. Volunteers will also have a uniform, clearly indicating they are with the Brockville Police Community Volunteers, so there will be no confusion. These people will be representing not just the Brockville Police, but also the community.

Applicants don’t necessarily need to have an interest in being a police officer, but they definitely need an interest in giving of their time to the community.

Please submit a resume and cover letter to Cst. Mark Heffernan by June 15^th, 4:00 pm.