Councillor Mike Cohen

Councillor Mike Cohen, a longstanding advocate for community engagement, continues his tradition of hosting district advisory committee meetings, a practice he initiated nearly 19 years ago. Recognized as a pioneer in fostering these regular dialogue events with constituents, Cohen’s commitment to transparency and collaboration has set a standard for councillors in our city. Reflecting on my own tenure as a council member, I adopted this approach, at his suggestion, to ensure the seamless dissemination of local information and foster meaningful connections with residents.

Residing in Cohen’s district, I’ve had the privilege of serving as an advisor on various matters at his invitation. Today, I had the opportunity to engage with his guest speaker, Neighbourhood Police Station 9 (PDQ 9) Commander, Stephane Desroches. Given my role as Chairman of our volunteer Citizens on Patrol (vCOP) and my extensive experience overseeing the Public Safety portfolio during my council tenure, Cohen invited me to pose a question to Commander Desroches.

Station 9 speed radar officer active on Westminster Avenue

I inquired about the integration and involvement of vCOP members in the activities of Station 9. Despite vCOP’s widespread presence across North America, it remains relatively unknown in Quebec. Commander Desroches affirmed the invaluable contribution of our volunteers, emphasizing their role as additional eyes and ears in the community—an ethos vCOP has upheld for the past 18 years. With the police department grappling with staffing shortages, Desroches highlighted the importance of supplementary resources in upholding safety and security, underscoring the paramount importance of the volunteer always remaining safe.

Councillor Mike Cohen visits the Nashens on his regular door-to-door rounds

Addressing concerns about car theft in Cote Saint-Luc, Commander Desroches acknowledged the nationwide prevalence of this issue but noted a downward trend in incidents. I attribute this positive shift to concerted efforts by the federal government and law enforcement agencies to combat organized crime activities effectively.

Desroches recounted a recent intervention on Castlewood Ave, where vigilant community members alerted authorities to a potentially dangerous situation involving a group of teenagers. Prompt police response led to the apprehension of 11 individuals, all teens, the confiscation of fake weapons, and the prevention of any injuries. Clarifying misconceptions propagated on social media, Desroches emphasized that the incident was unrelated to the Jewish community and that the arrested teens were not from Cote Saint-Luc.

Commander Stephane Desroches. Photo: Journal de Montréal.

Highlighting PDQ 9’s proactive approach to community engagement, Desroches outlined the presence of six police cadets and four bicycle patrol officers, actively participating in various local events. Notably, PDQ 9 officers will be joining vCOP members at the Cavendish Mall on Friday, June 14 to raise awareness about, and the prevention of elder abuse—a testament to their commitment to fostering a safer community.

The Commander invited residents to communicate their questions and concerns with the station by email at PDQ9@spvm.qc.ca.

PDQ 9 encompasses Cote Saint-Luc, Hampstead, Montreal West, and NDG.

I extend my gratitude to Councillor Mike Cohen for organizing this enlightening meeting, attended by several dozen residents, and I encourage everyone to visit MikeCohen.ca to view this pre-recorded meeting.