Gananoque Police Service welcomes Mobile Crisis Response Team

The Gananoque Police Service will get $94,007 to strengthen its ability to respond to mental health emergencies, as the Ontario government funds Mobile Crisis Response Teams.

The Ontario government is investing over $450,000 into four of the teams, including one in Gananoque.

Other funding allocations include $109,852 for the Brockville Police Service, $120,125 for the Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police, and $128,818 for the Grenville OPP.

Mobile Crisis Response Teams bring police officers and crisis workers together to respond to complex situations involving mental health or addiction concerns. These teams assess whether individuals in crisis require emergency medical care and connect them to appropriate community supports.

Brockville Police Chief Mark Noonan said Tuesday the city force is now putting its new Mobile Crisis Response Team together, working with Brockville General Hospital. Noonan said he hopes the new team will be up and running by the summer.

Meanwhile, in Gananoque, the town police force is also planning to raise funds for a good cause.

On Saturday, at the Gananoque Tim Hortons from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. town police officers will collect donations for Special Olympics Ontario. People who cannot make it can still donate from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.

Then, on Feb. 17 at 11:30 a.m., emergency service partners will brave the icy St. Lawrence River, to raise funds for local Special Olympics Ontario athletes. The public’s donations, cheers, and support are all welcomed.

With files from Ronald Zajac