It was 1971. York Region’s population was 166,000 and a small unit of uniformed officers, local municipal units and York County officers made up police services. That was then. Now with a population of more than 800,000, there are 931 officers and 228 civilian members. The combined branches include Uniform, Investigative Support, Information, Financial, Human Resource, Professional and Development and Community Services.

The role of policing is increasingly more complex. It’s more than recruitment and training. Officers must be sensitive to cultural differences, be aware of the latest technology and increase their communication with the public. Policing services must pull together all possible resources to protect the community. September 11 also added a new dimension of complexity.

In its second year of operation, the Air Support program is a welcome brother to land-based police, fire, and EMS services from the air. The Air#2 helicopter has found missing persons, tracked stolen vehicles and located vessels and people in danger on Lake Simcoe. It has participated in successful arrests with no injuries. Air#2 has also flown beyond the skies of York Region. In 2001 it assisted the Toronto Police squad with the take-down of an armed person, unlawfully at large in Toronto.

In 2001 York Region experienced a significant increase in the number of hate crimes reported, such as hate graffiti, vandalism to religious facilities and copycat anthrax scares. In 2001 a Hate Crime Unit was formed to address crimes that compromise community safety. As well, Police Services has increased its communication with other police agencies to strengthen its ability to deal with hate crime and other potential threats.

In 2001 Police Services tightened its grip on marijuana grow houses. Eighty-seven search warrants were executed. Thirty-five thousand marijuana plants were seized with a value of $35 million dollars.

In 2001, 27 fatal traffic collisions resulted in 29 deaths on York Region roads. Even though this is a decrease of 7.4% from last year, the Traffic Unit keeps its eyes on the road to protect individuals and families. In addition to the RIDE program there has been an increased focus on road safety, education and enforcement. York Regional Police has joined efforts with other agencies, including the York Region District School Board, York Region Health Services, Ministry of Transportation, and CN and CP Police to reduce the number of traffic accidents, seat belt violations, and to improve safety at railway crossings and school zones.

In 2001, many new laptops were installed in York Region police patrol cars. The new systems replace the old computers that were installed in the 1980s. These newer systems save space and improve the officers’ use of time. Much of the paper work that required officers to return to the station can now be done on workstations in the patrol car.

In 2001 York Regional Police celebrated its 30th anniversary in a special public event. The event included public performances by Pipes and Drums, marching bands and demonstrations by specialized units. A memorable dedication to fallen officers was the highlight of the evening.