New Offender Management Unit taking action on prolific and persistent offenders
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Windsor Police Service News Update April 4, 2024 |
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PUBLIC NEWS UPDATE
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New Offender Management Unit taking action on prolific and persistent offenders
Windsor and LaSalle Police are teaming up to keep tabs on dangerous offenders. The newly formed Offender Management Unit is already preventing repeat and violent individuals from committing serious crimes while out on bail.
Launched on March 11, 2024, the Offender Management Unit is a partnership between the Windsor and LaSalle Police Services. This specialized team is responsible for monitoring high-risk individuals placed under house arrest, curfew, or electronic monitoring – and ensuring that those who breach their judicial release orders are held accountable. The unit is staffed by constables from both police services and a civilian crime analyst.
Over its first three weeks, this dedicated team completed over 14 compliance checks, leading to the arrest of eight offenders and arrest warrants issued for three other non-compliant individuals. The offenders arrested for breaching their conditions had originally been charged with or convicted of serious violent crimes including murder, attempted murder, robbery, firearms offences, and sexual assault.
The officers also took part in training programs and met with numerous community partners.
“Recidivist offenders drive up our crime stats and repeatedly victimize our community. This team ensures that these violent and repeat individuals comply with judicial release orders and holds accountable those who don’t. Together with the LaSalle Police Service, we’re protecting people in our community and freeing up our frontline police officers to focus on other priorities,” said Windsor Police Inspector David DeLuca, who oversees the unit.
“We are grateful to our provincial partners for coming through on funding this very important initiative that will enhance our capacity to track down wanted persons and enforce conditions of judicial release including bail,” said LaSalle Police Chief Duncan Davies. “We are pleased to partner with the Windsor Police Service and local Crown Attorney's office by committing the necessary resources to this joint venture with the ultimate goal of making our respective communities more safe and secure.”
The Offender Management Unit is supported through a $2,276,437 grant from the Government of Ontario. The Windsor and LaSalle Police Services received $769,460 this year and will receive an additional $752,160 in 2025 and $754,817 in 2026. The funding is part of the provincial government’s $112 million investment to strengthen Ontario’s bail system and ensure high-risk and repeat violent offenders comply with their bail conditions.
“The Ontario Government will stop at nothing when it comes to keeping Windsor safe and addressing crime. This funding will help the Windsor Police Service address high-risk repeat offenders violating bail conditions by expanding the resources they need to monitor and apprehend those who breach judicial orders,” said Andrew Dowie, Member of Provincial Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh.
“The Offender Management Unit’s success underscores the importance of our investment in public safety. We are proud to support initiatives that protect our communities and hold offenders accountable,” said Anthony Leardi, Member of Provincial Parliament for Essex. |
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For further information: Contact the WPS Corporate Communication Unit's Public Information Officer at (519) 255-6700 ext. 4441. |
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