“It’s been a long road, a very long road, to where we are today.” Those were the words of Belleville Police Services Board Chair Jack Miller the Master of Ceremonies at the official opening of the service’s state of the art headquarters at Sidney Street and College Street West Saturday.
Miller told an invitation only crowd of close to 100 people gathered in bright sunshine that talk of a new police station was well underway when Steve Tanner was chief and Mary-Anne Sills was mayor in 2003.
The project stayed on a priority list under Mayors Ellis and Christopher, and now it has finally been done under Mayor Mitch Panciuk.
Miller said the delays came as the city had many infrastructure priorities and cost was an issue as was location.
“Future councils will not have to worry about a new Belleville Police Headquarters before the year of 2070. So here we are today and I believe that following your tour of this facility, you’ll join me in agreeing that while the wait was a long one it was ultimately worth it.”
Left to right: former mayors of Belleville Neil Ellis, Taso Christopher, and Mary-Anne Sills, current Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Chief Mike Callaghan, and former Mayor Ross McDougall. (Photo: Quinte News)
Chief of Police for the Belleville Police Service Mike Callaghan thanked his officers, civilian staff, city council and staff, and building contractors for working through a difficult project.
He in turn was praised by both Miller and Mayor Panciuk for his tireless efforts providing ideas and guidance throughout the process. Callaghan had been part of the construction of a new police headquarters in Kanata, in the Ottawa area, and city council had toured that facility and were very much impressed with it.
Chief of Police for the Belleville Police Service Mike Callaghan. (Photo: Quinte News)
The Chief spoke of the dire need for the new headquarters. “We need to make the community safe, and to feel safe. We need a proper space with up to date technology for our officers and we now have it. Policing has changed more in the past 10 years than it had in the past 100 and change is going to keep coming and quickly.”
Callaghan went on to talk about relationships in the community. He talked of community members stepping up to financially support an increased number of motorcycles, to buy an automated licence plate reader, and to reinstate a K9 Unit.
“When we look at relationships, for the past 36 years I’ve been in policing, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a large municipality and the spirit of cooperation in this community is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my career.”
Left to right: Deputy Chief Chris Barry, Councillors Sean Kelly, Garnet Thompson, Kelly McCaw, Chief Mike Callaghan, Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Councillors Carol Feeney, Paul Carr, Tyler Allsop, and Bill Sandison. (Photo: Quinte News)
Mayor Mitch Panciuk spoke of how proud he, council, and the entire community was of its police service, which now numbers over 150 including civilian staff.
Panciuk said Belleville’s was one of the oldest police services in the country and while it was only recognized by senior government as a “police village” in 1834 the community hired its first Police Constable 231 years ago, in 1790.
“This new station is more than just words. This new station is a testament to our (community) gratitude. We rely on you and your colleagues to keep us safe and we appreciate the work and sacrifice you all make in the performance of your duties. May this station keep you and our city safe for many years to come.”
Mayor of Quinte West Jim Harrison brought greetings from his community, stressing as he often does, how important it was for Quinte region communities to work together to further the area. Harrison said there was great cooperation between Quinte West OPP and the Belleville Police Service and said the new headquarters would only help make all of the region a safer place.
Also speaking were MPP Todd Smith, who brought greetings from fellow MPP Daryl Kramp, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General MPP Christine Hogarth.
The grand opening was done in two groups, one in the morning and one in the afternoon and both groups were offered tours of the facility. City council was piped in to the ceremony by Piper Allan Shackleton.
Piper Allan Shackleton performs just before emcee and Police Services Board Chair Jack Miller begins the grand opening ceremony. (Photo: Quinte News)
