The Windsor Police Service is the municipal law enforcement agency in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It succeeded the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment.
Since 2019, the Windsor Police Service has also provided contract policing services for the nearby Town of Amherstburg. In 2021, it submitted a proposal to provide policing services for the Municipality of Leamington. The municipality rejected the proposal and continues to be served by the Ontario Provincial Police.
The current chief of police is Jason Bellaire, who previously served as a deputy chief and acting chief before being appointed to the role in November 2022.
Windsor Police Services is among police forces with the highest number of human rights complaints in Ontario. Specifically, they have been the subject of the highest number of formal complaints regarding sexual misconduct and reprisal. They have also been the subject of high-profile cases of assault against civilians. In 2020, amidst rising demands for police abolition across North America, a campaign was launched to defund the Windsor Police Services.
Organization
The Windsor Police Service headquarters is located at 150 Goyeau Street in downtown Windsor. The building incorporates an Ontario Court of Justice courthouse.
In addition, the service maintains secondary sites:
Major FA Tilston Armoury & Police Training Centre, 4007 Sandwich St. (shared with the Department of National Defence) Sandwich Community Services, 3312 Sandwich St. Collision Reporting Centre, 2696 Jefferson Blvd. The police service employs 473 sworn members and 153 civilian members. The organization is divided into two areas: Operations and Operational Support.
Operations
Emergency 911 Centre
The Windsor Police Emergency 911 Centre handles all incoming 911 calls in the City of Windsor. It dispatches police officers, while calls for fire and EMS are routed to their respective agencies. The Emergency 911 Centre co-operates with the Canadian Coast Guard, Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Investigations
General Investigations Unit
Major Crimes Unit
Special Victims Unit
Target Based Unit
Investigative Support
Investigative Analysis
Drugs & Gun Enforcement
Intelligence
Property & Evidence Retention
Patrol and Patrol Response
Downtown directed patrol
Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST)
Patrol Support
Court Operations
Emergency Services Unit
Explosive Disposal Unit
Marine Unit
Police Dog Unit
Traffic Branch
Collision Reporting Centre
Operational Support
Information Services
Planning & Physical Services
Professional Advancement
Professional Standards Branch
Quality Assurance and Audits
Technology Services
Windsor Police Pipe Band
The Windsor Police Pipe Band was founded in 1967. The band performs at a variety of community events, including parades, police memorial services and funerals. Two groups also compete under the Windsor Police's name in grade 3 and 5.
Police chiefs
The following is a list of Windsor's police chiefs: Samuel Port 1867 William Bains Daniel Thompson Mortimore Wigle James P. Smith Claude Renaud 1935 to 1950 Edwin V. McNeill - O.P.P. Staff Inspector. Temporary appointment. 1950/51 Carl W. Farrow 1951 to 1968 Gordon Preston 1968 to 1974 John Williamson 1974 to 1980 Jack Shuttleworth 1980 to 1984 John Hughes 1984 to 1988 Jim Adkin 1988-1994 John Kousik 1994-1999 Glenn Stannard 1999-2008 Gary Smith 2008-2012 Al Frederick 2012-2019 Pamela Mizuno 2019-2022 Jason Bellaire 2022–Present
Controversies
David Van Buskirk and the Assault of Dr. Abouhassan
In April 2010, Windsor Detective David van Buskirk assaulted Dr. Tyceer Abouhassan, an endocrinologist, in an unprovoked attack in a parking lot on McDougall St. outside Dr. Abouhassan's workplace. Dr. Abouhassan was left with a concussion, broken nose, bruised ribs, and a detached retina, requiring emergency surgery. Van Buskirk initially filed a police report stating that Dr. Abouhassan had attacked him, and police filed charges against Abouhassan for assaulting a peace officer. Those charges were dismissed by the court later that year. In 2012, a video was uncovered which showed the assault on film. Van Buskirk then retracted his earlier statements and plead guilty to assault.