A command performance at vCOP meeting

Glenn J. Nashen with Police Commander Sylvain Bissonnette

Montreal Police Station 9 Commander Sylvain Bissonnette was the special guest speaker at last week’s bi-monthly patrol meeting of Cote Saint-Luc’s volunteer Citizens on Patrol (vCOP).

The local police chief is also a historian and volunteer commander of the St. John’s Ambulance.  He spoke to the membership about the history, philosophy and guiding principles of policing in the western world.

Modern policing systems are derived from French and British legal systems, Bissonnette explained.  Sir Robert Peel, 19th century British Prime Minister, was a driving force in creating the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829, based at Scotland Yard, while he served as  Home Secretary. The 1,000 constables employed were affectionately nicknamed ‘Bobbies’ (a term still used today).

“Modern police forces are by the people, for the people,” Bissonnette told the volunteers.  ”They are there to serve and protect based upon the rules of law and good order, and not at the whim of whomever is in charge of the state, as is the case in dictatorships around the world.”

“The scrutiny over police is extensive,” the commander explained, indicating that there are numerous oversight bodies, both official and unofficial  including the media as well as the average citizen armed with a smartphone video camera. Such was the case with the now famous story about Constable 728 who was videotaped aggressively pepper-spraying student protesters and others.  The video was uploaded to Youtube, covered by national and international media and the officer was disciplined by the force.

The commander concluded saying that the police force is a dynamic and evolving organization, showing off the new vehicles and uniforms that will take effect beginning next month.

Many thanks to Commander Bissonnette for continuing to inspire the members of CSL vCOP.  His collaborative style and optimistic outlook is refreshing.  His tireless efforts have ensured that Cote Saint-Luc remains the safest community in the Montreal Agglomeration.

For more information on CSL volunteer Citizens on Patrol or to join please visit the vCOP website.

Commander Bissonnette awarded Queen’s Jubilee Medal

Free Press, December 19, 2012 – Click to enlarge

Congratulations to PDQ 9 Police Commander Sylvain Bissonnette on his receiving the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in recognition for his outstanding service to the community.

Bissonnette is no stranger to Cote Saint-Luc.  Since assuming the role as top cop in Cote Saint-Luc, Hampstead and Montreal West Bissonnette has immersed himself in community life.  He has taken a personal interest in improving relations between local police and the community, he has gotten to understand the sizable Jewish community and has succeeded in taking action to ensure that police services could be provided in English as well as in French for West End residents.

Commander Bissonnette is a regular attendee of all public council meetings to be able to understand the concerns of the public as well as elected officials.  He also participates at all CSL Public Safety Committee meetings that I have chaired over the years.  He actively participates in the Transportation committee, which I also chair, in order to offer his expert advice regarding traffic calming, enforcement and collaborating with CSL Public Security and volunteer Citizens on Patrol.

Bissonnette and his right hand man Lt. JP Theoret have been staunch supporters of vCOP since its inception and have participated in training the volunteers and in recognizing their efforts.  The commander also initiated the annual PDQ9 award to an outstanding member of vCOP.

Felicitation monsieur le commandant. Vous êtes un pilier de la communauté et je parle au nom de mes électeurs de vous remercier pour tout votre travail remarquable. Nous sommes une ville plus sûre en grande partie grâce à votre intérêt et engagement à servir et protéger. Puissiez-vous continuer d’aller de succès en succès.

Happy Holidays to CSL Citizens on Patrol

Happy patrollers: (L-R) Harvey and Susie Schwartz, Mitchell Herf, Lewis Cohen, Glenn J. Nashen, Ruth Kovac, Dr. Gerry Trager, Peter Kovac

On Tuesday night the Cote Saint-Luc volunteer Citizens on Patrol turned out in large numbers to City Hall.  This was not an emergency civil preparedness drill.  To the contrary, this was a festive gathering to thank our dedicated volunteers for their deep commitment in helping to keep our city safe.

Volunteer supervisor Susie Schwartz organized a lovely buffet dinner for the 80 vCOP members who patrol Cote Saint-Luc streets, parks and facilities at all hours of day and night.

Several members were recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty in terms of hundreds of hours of service during the year as well as for giving extra time to serve as team leaders and supervisors, handling administrative tasks, training of new members, continuing education of existing members, scheduling, vehicle maintenance and much more.

Also in attendance were CSL Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson and Manager Jerome Pontbriand along with Police Commander Sylvain Bissonnette and his right hand man Lt. J.P. Theoret.

Bissonnette and Theoret have been staunch supporters of the vCOP program and through close collaboration between vCOP, police and CSL Public Security, Bissonnette reaffirmed that Cote Saint-Luc continues to be the safest community on the Island of Montreal.

Mayor Anthony Housefather was on hand to personally thank each vCOP on behalf of Cote Saint-Luc residents.  The mayor has shown continuous support and much enthusiasm for the vCOP program since its inception six-and-a-half years ago.

I saluted the time, effort and passion that our vCOP members contribute to the community.  Our volunteers are unlike any group in Quebec.

Similarly, I had the pleasure of thanking our EMS volunteers at their holiday dinner just a few nights earlier.  EMS troops dedicate hundreds of hours, 24/7, responding to some 3000 emergency medical calls each year.  With enough volunteers at the ready, EMS has even responded to four simultaneous emergencies on several occasions this year.

At the vCOP celebration I also introduced Councillor Ruth Kovac as my partner in crime prevention.  Ruth and I have been actively involved in emergency preparedness for over 30 years.  Her husband, Peter, joined vCOP last year.  Ruth prepared a poetic tribute to the vCOP members as well as to their spouses who give them the time to serve their city.

ODE TO A VCOP (by Ruth Kovac)

Twenty four hours in every day

Where do you go to give some away?

Time is such a precious gift

And yet you come here and do a shift!

Whether it’s Allan, Gerry, Peter or Paul

It’s a rewarding experience for one and for all

Driving a scooter, a van or a bike

It’s your eyes and ears

And your voice

Over the mike

From dispatch you might hear

“A child is lost”

So you summon all the troops

And all this at no extra cost

At Special events your presence

Is so needed

So once again

The request has been heeded

You don your gear

So proud in orange and black

Your heads are held high

There is no turning a back.

You might stand for hours

Watching over the crowd

Our Cote Saint Luc Residents

Can surely feel proud.

It might be boring

Bur never a complaining word

Just “doing the job”

For our wonderful suburb

Friendships have been strengthened while

Being on shift

You have also learned CPR

And radio protocols, all a personal development lift.

You often take photos

Of things that you see

And send them to Glenn…….

And then he sends them on to me

We talk about the those questions

And discuss at great length

How you all make Cote Saint Luc better

As we go from strength to strength

Perhaps you have seen

An opened garage door

Come upon a car accident

Or seen water gushing into a ground floor

The shifts might be many

Or perhaps just a few

But each one is precious

A donated gift from you

And no matter how your time is spent

Cote Saint Luc knows each of you is heaven sent!

So from Glenn and myself

And Council too

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah

Volunteers…THANK YOU!!!

Youth arrested in CSL after firing BB rifle near school

Joel Goldenberg, Oct. 10, 2012

The Suburban

 

A 15-year-old youth was arrested after firing a BB rifle in close proximity to the École des Amis de Monde School on Mackle Road in Côte St. Luc recently.

Station 9 Commander Sylvain Bissonnette told The Suburban that one child was slightly injured by a plastic pellet. Special precautions were also taken and Jewish community institutions were contacted, as the incident took place on the Jewish high holiday of Yom Kippur.

But as it turned out, the incident was not a hate crime. “It was just someone doing a stupid thing,” Bissonnette explained.

The commander said he was very pleased with the way the school took precautions for its students during the time of the incident and before the arrest, as well as the actions of his officers. “Everything was done by the book,” Bissonnette said.

••• The commander also said that the apparent motive for the recent Sept. 20 shooting on Borden Avenue and Fleet Road in Côte St. Luc was intimidation of a businessman over money that was wanted. No one was injured in the shooting. According to media reports, the alleged assailant led police on an extensive chase that ended several hours later that same night of Sept. 20, when he was arrested in Laval.

Suburbanites felt close to their local police departments

The Suburban Newspaper, Aug. 15, 2012 – Click to enlarge

 

CSL’s Finest in Orange celebrate summer

Cote Saint-Luc’s volunteer Citizens on Patrol held their annual summer BBQ to toast six years of service to the city.  This group is the first and largest COP group in Quebec with over 80 members.

Mayor Anthony Housefather thanked the volunteers for their dedication to serve as eyes and ears. Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson and Chief Jerome Pontbriand pledged their continued support of the volunteers.

Police Commander Sylvain Bissonnette repeated his familiar refrain that thanks to the culture of safety that has developed in CSL over the last decades this is the safest city on the Island of Montreal.  Police officers Marie Christine Norbert and Vincent de Angelis were in attendance leading me to quip that they were actually the only two officers left in CSL with all others pursuing pot-clanking protesters downtown.

The BBQ was a celebration of volunteerism and community safety.  As the volunteer leader of vCOP I have been working hard with the volunteers and staff to launch a new plan to encourage more leadership and better succession planning in order to restrengthen the organization.

This year alone vCOP has increased its fleet to four marked vans (one of them donated), added two donated electric bicycles, and is set to acquire two new electric scooters to add to its fleet of two donated mountain bikes and its original two electric scooters.

All members of vCOP contribute money in addition to their time.  They look to the community to help offset their modest costs.  If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to vCOP please send your cheque marked “vCOP” made payable to the City of Cote Saint-Luc or contact Public Safety Chief Jerome Pontbriand at 514-485-6800.

 

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Four arrested after attempted CSL home invasion

Four arrested after attempted CSL home invasion

Joel Goldenberg, The Suburban

July 11, 2012

 

Early last week, there were media reports of a lengthy police operation that took place on Centennial Avenue in Côte St. Luc on July 1 and 2. But most of the facts related to the operation were not made available to the media just after the operation ended. However, Station 9 commander Sylvain Bissonnette told The Suburban Friday that there were a total of four arrests made after a resident was attacked by several individuals and what turned out to be a home invasion was attempted.

Bissonnette explained that the victim owed some money, and the individual who wanted the money returned had been harassing the victim for several weeks.

“That didn’t work, so one of the suspects decided to recruit other people to help him get his money,” the commander explained. “They went to the victim’s house on Centennial. The victim saw the men coming and understood the situation – he was outside smoking.” A fight then ensued. The victim was beaten and bruised, but not enough to require hospital treatment. The victim fled, and the suspects went into the victim’s home to steal some goods.

“The victim lives near the CP yards,” Bissonnette added. “It was early in the morning, and the victim was still in his pajamas. He went over the fence and into the yard, and was arrested by two CP police officers, who found it odd to see a guy – so late at night – with almost no clothing. The victim explained what happened to him and that he lives close to the yard.” The CP officers then passed on the information to Station 9, which dispatched a car.

“The officers discovered there was a break and entry, and at the same time, the CP police brought the victim over.” Police arrested three suspects right away and the items they stole were recovered. They were charged with restraint of a person, aggravated theft and armed aggression.

“We understood, after the fact, that they were planning to do a home invasion, which turned sour.” Bissonnette said that later, a fourth suspect was arrested after he turned up at an investigation centre, and told his story to police. “So we had four suspects in this case.”

Look out for new pedestrian crosswalk on Fleet, Hamsptead

Free Press, May 23. 2012, Click to enlarge

If you haven’t noticed the blinking LED-lit crosswalk sign on Fleet Road in Hampstead you better take note.  Hampstead has added this signage with corresponding fines of $154 for an infraction to its collection of confusing traffic signs designed to keep through traffic off its side streets.

Their Councillor responsible for traffic safety, Harvey Shaffer, has also indicated that they’ve asked Police Station 9 commander Sylvain Bissonnette to step up patrols on their territory.

I’ve been a critic of Hampstead’s bizarre and difficult to understand no left turn signs along Fleet (search “Fleet” or “Hampstead” on this blog), and while I strongly support pedestrian crosswalk safety this is going to be a very difficult one to abide by and to enforce.

Traffic along this main artery is steady and travels at 50 km/h, plus or minus about 10 km/h I’d guesstimate.  Pedestrians would be safer to wait for a break in the clusters of traffic rather than to negotiate their way across while one lane may come to a halt but not the others.

Hampstead would be well advised to install a pedestrian call button that would allow a person to activate yellow flashing lights overhead to signal a pedestrian is present.  This would enhance the safety significantly on this thoroughfare.

In any case, have a look how many pedestrians are trying to cross in the next week or two.  I’ve checked every time I passed over the last several weeks  and have yet to spot a single pedestrian.

Police officers serve up the java for Special Olympics

Hats off to the officers of Montreal Police Stations 9 and 11 who served up the java, bacon and eggs to benefit the Québec Special Olympics this morning.

The Best in the West (End): Police Commanders of Station 9 Sylvain Bissonnette and Station 11 Roxane Pitre

Chez Cora on St. Jacques Street was the safest place in town as uniformed officers scurried around with waiters and waitresses filling, and refilling, the mugs.

Cote Saint-Lucers were out in full force with Councillors Ruth Kovac, Mike Cohen and myself representing Council, City Manager Tanya Abramovitch, legal counsel Cheri Bell, Public Security director and manager Jordy Reichson and Jerome Pontbriand, Senior Men’s Club members Henry Grover and George Nashen, vCOP members Alan Greenberg, Elaine Meunier and Abe Miller.

Commander Bissonnette with CSL vCOPing couple Elaine Meunier and Abe Miller

Local commanders Sylvain Bissonnette (PDQ9) and Roxane Pitre (PDQ11) deserve un gros felicitations for their leadership not only throughout the year but in organizing this important fundraising initiative to help those with intellectual and physical challenges to compete and to gain self confidence.

Enjoying their breakfast together are Public Security’s First Lady (and CSL EMS medic) Joy Rodgers, Jordy Reichson, Dr. Judy Hagshi and Jerome Pontbriand

Hundreds of West Enders turned up for breakfast and lunch for a good cause.  A Kosher meal was even available.  At the end of the day the Police Department was successful in raising $xxxx for the Special Olympians.  Bravo to Montreal’s Finest who raised over $4000.

Howard Liebman, Mount Royal MP Irwin Cotler’s representative with Councillor (and big police fan) Ruth Kovac

Read more on Mike Cohen’s blog

COPs pull over vCOPs

Cote Saint-Luc volunteer Citizens on Patrol was out on a routine shift last week when suddenly a Montreal Police cruiser waved aside the vCOP van.  Dutifully, volunteer couple Abe Miller and Elaine Meunier pulled to the side of the road unsure of what they had done wrong.

Over walks the police officer.  But instead of issuing a ticket he threw a bouquet, so to speak.  Abe and Elaine were stopped so that the officer and his partner could tell them that they thought vCOP was terrific and just how much they appreciated everything our volunteers do for the community and in assisting the police.

“That was sure nice to hear,” Elaine told me.

Congratulations to Abe and Elaine and to all our outstanding vCOPs.  And merci beaucoup to Police Station 9 officers under the leadership of Commander Sylvain Bissonnette.  A small unexpected gesture like this has given a morale boost to an entire volunteer organization.

CSL Police station 9 managing overnight patrols again

CSL Police station 9 managing overnight patrols again

By Joel Goldenberg, The Suburban

February 22, 2012

Montreal police Station 9, which serves Côte St. Luc, Hampstead and Montreal West, recently resumed managing overnight patrols after several years, it was announced at the Montreal West and Côte St. Luc council meetings.

“We have increased surveillance overnight by Station 9,” said Montreal West Councillor Julie Tasker-Brown, in charge of the security portfolio on council. “We used to have to share the services of [NDG's ] Station 11, which had a big territory, and now we get Station 9 back at night. That’s good news.” The overnight service resumed in late January. Station 11 had been managing the overnight patrols for more than three years.

At the February Côte St. Luc council meeting, Councillor Glenn Nashen, who has the security portfolio on his council, made the same announcement, pointing out that the patrols “are now run out of Station 9 vehicles in our territory. “This means it’s likelier we have more manhours being covered, not into NDG, but right here in Côte St. Luc, so we appreciate Commander Sylvain Bissonnette listening to us and our neighbours, and advocating on our behalf to bring this back after a hiatus of a few years,” Nashen added.

Mayor Anthony Housefather pointed out that after advocacy by Côte St. Luc helped save Station 9 from elimination, one of the agreements involved in keeping the Cavendish Blvd. station open was to have the night shift run out of Station 11.

“I guess it’s the same with demerger – the argument was ‘you lose it, you lose it,’ and eventually you get it back,” the mayor added.

Related articles

• Police Station 9 back on overnight patrol (gjnashen.wordpress.com)

Suspect in 10 synagogue robberies arrested

Suspect in 10 synagogue robberies arrested
No hate crime involved
The Suburban, February 15, 2012
By Joel Goldenberg

Montreal police recently arrested a 41-year-old man suspected of robbing synagogues in the Station 9 (Côte St. Luc-Hampstead) and Station 26 (Côte des Neiges) areas in recent months. Station 9 commander Sylvain Bissonette told The Suburban last week that the individual is charged with eight break and entries and two of stealing less than $5,000 – instances where he walked into the synagogues in broad daylight and stole money. In each case, petty cash was stolen, nothing was vandalized, nothing religious was stolen, and the incidents are not considered hate crimes, he added. The suspect was also charged with four counts of breach of parole conditions.

“The person was arrested in the Station 26 territory while he was doing a break and entry,” Bissonnette said. “At Station 9, we were trying to find him. We linked him to several cases. There were nine cases in Station 9. He was in court last week and he is now detained.”

Commander Bissonnette said police are proud of this arrest. “Last year, at around this time, we had synagogues that were vandalized, so we paid special attention this year [with the cooperation of Côte St. Luc and Hampstead],” he explained. “We were wondering if something would happen at the same time of year. We did an operation with several stations and it was during that operation that this person decided to do a break and enter. Probably just bad timing for him. “He was caught red handed. There were video cameras inside the other synagogues, so that’s why we were able to identify him for the other robberies.” The video footage also revealed a robbery of which officials of one synagogue were not even aware.

Bissonnette thanked Federation CJA officials involved with synagogue security for giving the information to synagogues regarding the robberies, giving police “a clearer picture.”

In my opinion:  Kudos to Commander Sylvain Bissonnette and to Federation CJA Community Security.  They have worked on this case for more than a year and were intent on solving this case.  I also thank Cote Saint-Luc Public Security agents and volunteer Citizens on Patrol along with CSL Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson for playing an important role in safeguarding the community and in working closely with the commander on this and other cases.

Police Station 9 back on overnight patrol

In the last few weeks you may have noticed that Station 9 vehicles back on patrol during the overnight hours in Cote Saint-Luc, Hampstead and Montreal West.  When Montreal threatened to close the station five years ago the three municipalities agreed to withdraw the overnight patrols being controlled out of Station 9, and moved them to Station 11, provided that the local station remained open from early morning until late at night.

Thanks to the persistent advocacy of PDQ9 Commander Sylvain Bissonnette, overnight patrols have finally been returned to the Cavendish Blvd. station.

What does this mean to Cote Saint-Luc, Hampstead and Montreal West residents?  It means regular patrol vehicles dedicated to our three municipalities, prioritized locally, rather than out of NDG.  PDQ9 officers are familiar with our streets and our issues.  They are more aware of local particularities, hot spots and residents.  They are better suited to serve and protect our three cities than are other officers from neighbouring stations.

Welcome back to late night in Cote Saint-Luc.  We’re glad to have you on duty.

Hampstead’s beef with CSL motorists continue

The Free Press, Dec. 13, 2011

 

When will the squabbling about mostly Cote Saint-Luc drivers in Hampstead finally end?  Is this how we want to deploy our otherwise limited Police resources?  Have we lost sight of our priorities in trying to work together to strengthen our communities rather than driving a wedge among neighbours?

What are your thoughts on Hampstead’s intolerance of CSL motorists?  Click “Leave a comment” and let us know what you think?

Related articles

• Hampstead confirms Fleet restrictions to penalize CSL drivers (gjnashen.wordpress.com)

Greater police presence on Fleet in Hampstead

Greater police presence on Fleet in Hampstead.

In my opinion:  The hodgepodge of contradictory and confusing regulations for left turns on Fleet Road should be nothing short of embarrassing for the Hampstead Town Council.  The signage posted at each intersection, where left turns are permitted for 15 minute periods, is deliberately difficult to read, nearly unintelligible, and I’d say outright dangerous given that a motorist’s first responsibility is to drive safely, not to do virtual calculus in deciphering when one is allowed or prohibited from turning left.  

The Police Department should should not even enforce these regulations which should be deemed dangerous to public safety, unreasonable and simply entrapment.  I would suggest that anyone ticketed for turning left at one of these intersections plead not guilty and give the judge the opportunity to tell Hampstead just how laughable this circus of signs really is.

 

By Joel Goldenberg, The Suburban, Oct. 26, 2011

Hampstead councillor Harvey Shaffer recently announced that there will be a greater police presence on Fleet Road, to enforce the laws prohibiting left turns at various times off the eastbound road, and to catch speeders.

Moments earlier, Mayor William Steinberg told Harland resident Lorne Gold there was no need for a greater police presence on Fleet to catch motorists making illegal left turns onto Harland.

During his October monthly report on traffic issues, Shaffer told the meeting, and Gold in particular, that “the council, as well as Commander Bissonnette and his police officers, are well aware that there are, at times, only at times, certain problems with the left turns on various streets going east in the morning on Fleet, and there are several cars speeding on Fleet.

“Within the very near future, there will be a greater police presence to tend to these issues and police will be more aggressive in the forthcoming weeks,” he told Gold in particular. “I think that will answer the question you raised to the mayor.”

 

Previous posts on the Fleet left-turn restrictions:

Chelmstead

Restrictions a pain

Left-turn rule ridiculed

Ire, ridicule