‘Enforcement alone will not solve the issue long-term’: Barrie police address safety on downtown streets

Downtown Barrie, Ont. and Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston are shown in this split screen image. (CTV News/Mike Lang)

After a strongly worded motion aimed at tackling Barrie’s downtown drug use that includes asking police to take a zero-tolerance stance, Barrie police are responding with what they call a balanced approach.

Barrie City Council passed a motion Wednesday night outlining a “zero-tolerance stance on drug use” to face head-on what he calls a “lawlessness downtown” and it passed.

• RELATED: Barrie council passes sweeping motion

Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall says he wants to see police lay charges when illegal drugs are being used downtown and at the same time, get those people the help they need.

“When drugs are allowed to be used without trouble being given, without any sort of charges being given, without them being removed all together, that is a state of lawlessness,” Nuttall says in an interview with CTV News.

The Barrie Police Service says when officers are on patrol downtown and they see people breaking the law, they will take appropriate action. However, in a release, police say they also recognize not every situation is criminal.

“What you’re often seeing isn’t always crime – it’s people dealing with addiction, mental health struggles and homelessness,” says Chief Rich Johnston with Barrie police. “In these circumstances, policing looks different. Our approach balances compassion with accountability.”

• RELATED: Barrie mayor pushes for jail or rehab for drug offenders in zero-tolerance plan

Part of the motion stated City staff would send a letter to the Barrie Police Board outlining zero-tolerance enforcement and asking for information on how police could support that.

Nuttall sits on that board alongside Councillor Robert Thompson and former councillors Arif Khan and Lynn Strachan.

The mayor does not have the authority to direct police operations, but the police board as a whole needs to approve motions for the police service.

• RELATED: Zero-tolerance: Barrie mayor outlines his plan of enforcement and outreach to combat drugs and crime

Barrie police say in their release that without support for people facing drug addiction, it takes more than enforcement.

“Enforcement alone will not solve the issue long-term,” the Barrie Police Service says.

Its release states many people struggling are those who need medical, social and housing supports, which is something the service says it works closely with community partners on.

“Together, with the community services that are available and the City of Barrie, there is a concentrated effort to address concerns about downtown safety for everyone to enjoy all that this beautiful city has to offer,” says Deputy Chief Rob Burke.

In an interview with CTV News, Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston says there would be more police presence in the city’s downtown this summer.

He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to public safety and enforcing the law but noted it doesn’t have the ability to change the law.

“There are restrictions around what we can do and what people may think we are able to do,” Johnston says. “And so, police officers, it is our duty to remain within those constraints.”

The Barrie Police Service says it’s committed to supporting people who need it most while also enforcing the law when it’s clear behaviour they see is a safety issue for the public.

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In the release, Chief Johnston reiterates the police service’s commitment to law enforcement but also the need for safety for everyone in the community.

“We are officers of the law and committed to ensuring everyone’s safety, but we are also your neighbours. We live here, we are raising our families here, and we want the same sense of safety as you for our kids, our grandkids, and our community. When our officers are on duty, they’re not just responding to calls – they see people in difficult moments and do their best to help. This approach matters to us, not just professionally, but personally,” says Johnston.

The next Barrie Police Service Board meeting is scheduled for May 21.