Windsor police say their efforts to address open drug use downtown are making a difference, but city officials and community service providers agree there’s still work to be done. Deputy Chief of Operations Ken Cribley says the Windsor Police Service has dedicated officers assigned to the downtown core, with an approach that combines enforcement, visible police presence and connections to community supports. “We will be visible number one. Number two, enforce laws as required. And number three, connect the people with community services,” Cribley said. Police reported more than 1,200 calls involving open drug use so far this year, along with 33 arrests under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, 2025. The service also reported making 560 referrals to health, housing and other community supports. Cribley said police are using data to better understand the challenges downtown and determine how best to respond. He said the service will monitor calls for service from year to year, along with arrests and the frequency of connections to support services, to measure progress. However, he stressed that the number of calls involving open drug use should not be interpreted as an indication that downtown is unsafe. “Just because we’ve had 1,200 calls for service doesn’t mean that our downtown core is not safe. In fact, our crime stats would tell a different story. Our downtown core is actually quite safe,” Cribley said. Downtown councillor and Windsor Downtown Business Improvement Association member Renaldo Agostino says he supports the increased enforcement, but believes it’s too early to determine whether the approach is producing lasting results. He says addressing open drug use has been a longstanding concern raised by businesses and residents. “I think it’s too soon to tell. I think getting people to help is certainly what needs to be the mandatory part of this, getting people to supports and the help they need,” Agostino said. Agostino also pointed to continued business activity in the downtown core, saying 19 new businesses have opened in 2026. He believes the work needs to continue consistently, rather than being treated as a temporary response. “We don’t need this as a temporary thing. This needs to be a full-time thing where we just don’t allow it anymore,” he said. The Downtown Mission is also welcoming the police service’s efforts to connect vulnerable people with community supports. Executive Director Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin said the 560 referrals represent an important part of the response, recognizing the need for cooperation between police, health-care providers and social service organizations. She said the community continues to identify gaps and work together to provide support, but it’s difficult to say whether existing resources are enough. “I don’t know if we have enough. I think we always need more,” Ponniah-Goulin told CTV News, pointing to wait times and demand for services. She also emphasized the importance of taking time to understand what people are experiencing and helping them find appropriate support. The issue is expected to be among the topics discussed during the Downtown Mission’s 24-hour Bench Talk fundraiser, which begins Thursday and runs through Friday. The event brings together community partners, health-care professionals and members of the public for conversations about the challenges facing vulnerable people in Windsor-Essex. Ponniah-Goulin said Windsor police and other community partners have been invited to take part, with the open drug-use response likely to be a subject of discussion. She said the event offers an opportunity for people to learn more about the Mission’s work and engage directly with organizations providing support in the community.
