Windsor police say the Dedicated Officer Program, a partnership with Windsor Regional Hospital, has drastically reduced turnaround times for police officers who wait in the emergency department with people in crisis.
The initiative was launched in 2023. It stations dedicated police officers directly at the Ouellette Campus to lower person-in-crisis transfer times so that patrol members can quickly return to the road and respond to other urgent calls.
Since launching the joint initiative, the average time for person-in-crisis transfers has decreased by over 35 per cent.
Over the first seven weeks of 2025, the average time for a patient transfer was 13 minutes – a 40 per cent improvement over the same time last year.
“We’re getting officers back on the road and responding to priority one calls faster than we have in years, all while ensuring vulnerable individuals receive the care and support they need,” said Windsor Police Chief Jason Bellaire. “By managing existing resources and thinking differently, our members are delivering impactful, data-driven results that speak for themselves.”
Before the initiative, officers averaged between three and 11 hours with each person in crisis that had to be admitted to the emergency department.
“As a hospital committed to delivering timely and effective patient care, we recognize the importance of safe and seamless coordination between emergency responders and our clinical team,” said Karen Riddell, acting president and CEO, Windsor Regional Hospital. “Since inception of the dedicated officer program in the emergency department, we have seen a significant reduction in transfer times. This initiative continues to enhance efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and reinforce our commitment to providing high-quality emergency care.”
The program has enabled the Windsor Police Service to reinvest the time officers would have otherwise spent in the emergency department and improve their priority one response time. This strategy also provides an ability to focus on other important issues, including auto theft and retail crime.
If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call Victim Services Windsor Essex County at 519-723-2711 or the Victim Assistance Unit at Windsor Police at 519-255-6700, ext. 4879.
