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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-04-19, Page 14New OPP communications system MOUNT FOREST - A news con- ference was held April 12-, at the Mount Forest Community Centre to introduce the new telecoQmmuni- cations system which is etirrently being installed in OPP detachments and vehicles in the Force's No. 6 District. The news conference featured in- formation about new public "800" telephone numbers for OPP police services in the counties of Grey - Bruce, Huron, Perth, Wellington and on highways in Waterloo Re- gion. The $106.9 million system is be- ing phased in across Ontario. Last December, the counties of Oxford, Elgin and Middlesex were the first areas in Ontario to receive the new service which replaces a system de- signed in the 1940s. The new sys- tem will be fully installed by 1992. The telecommunications s"stem incorporates many benefits tor both the public and OPP officers. The introduction of the two new district - wide, toll-free telephone numbers for public use in summoning police assistance will end confusion sur- rounding what number to call when help is needed. In the past, the public had to de- cide whether to contact the local de- tachment or ask the Bell telephone operator for Zenith 50,000. The number for this district will now be 1-800-265-2525 and is toll-free. General inquiries or calls which do not require police attendance should continue to be placed to the area detachment during regular busi- ness hours. In Exeter that is 235- 1300. Now, because of the centralized radio dispatching on a district -wide basis, local detachments offices no longer need to remain open around Trapper- retires after 10 years of policing MOUNT FOREST - The Ontario Provincial Police Canine Unit has lost one of its best-known and most valuable teams to retirement. The retirement of "Trapper", an 11 -and -a -half -year-old German Shepherd, was necessitated by the transfer of his handler, Sergeant Glenn O'Rourke, to the OPP Tele- communications Centre at. Mount Forest. Sergeant O'Rourke obtained and trained "Trapper" in the summer of 1979, when the dog was 20 months old. They've been partners and con- stant companions ever since. "Trapper" will spend his retirement in well-deserved rest and relaxation - as O'Rourke's pet. O'Rourke and "Trapper" partici- pated in approximately 1,3.00 searches together, resulting in the capture of many criminals seizures of large quantities of drugs, the sav- ing of several lives and the locating of missing persons. Among the searches in which "Trapper" assisted was the manhunt for the murderer of Provincial Con- stable Rick Hopkins of Mount For- est OPP, in 1982. The lives he saved include that of a two -and -a- half year old girl year old girl he lo- cated on a bitterly cold March, 1981 day at the rear of a farm in Mom- ington Township. The girl was found in an area foot -searchers may have overlooked. Her clothes were frozen to her legs, and she probably would not have survived the night. "Trapper" assisted in providing security for visits by Pope John II, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Queen Mother and the Duke and Duchess of York. He made five appearances at the Canadian Sportsmen's Show in To- ronto and several appearances on a number of television programs. He was also the subject of many local newspaper articles, and was even in Reader's Digest. In 1981, "Trapper" was nominated for induction into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame. O'Rourke and "Trapper" have also taken part in approximately 700 public demonstrations and have vis- ited hundreds of schools, boy scout and girl guide groups and service clubs throughout the Mount Forest District. Glenn O'Rourke is the son of Mrs. Clare O'Rourke of Main Street, Exeter. CFMfIDfI OMTFRIO Crop Insurance Production costs are higher than ever before. You should insure that investment. You stand to lose more than you might think from unexpected hail, frost, drought, flood, wind, insect damage and disease. Crop Insuran 2,e makes better sense every year. Agent: DONALD WEIGAND Dashwood, Ont Phone 237-3418 Townships of Hay, Stephen, McGillivray Deadline May 1st 11. Agriculture Canada the clock and will be open only dur- ing regular business hours. After business hours, people who attend local detachments seeking police assistance will be able to use a direct -dial telephone which will be affixed to the exterior wall of the building. This telephone is connect- ed to the district communications centre. The new system will free officers previously assigned detachment desk duty for patrol. For patrol offi- cers, the most obvious change will be the introduction of new, comput- er-assisted radios in cruisers. The new system utilizes many more channels than the old two -frequency system and the new radios include innovative features including an emergency button which, when ac- tivated, alerts the communications center to the urgency of the call. While the new radios are capable of incorporating data terminals when they become available in the future, they already utilize some data capabilities. For example, offi- cer status can be transmitted to the dispatcher by the touch of a button thus cutting down on air time and needless calls. Another significant feature of the new system is the ability to sup- port portable radios. Many officers will be issued portable radios when on patrol. This means that.the pub- lic can expect to see more officer presence on the streets, in local shopping malls and at special com- munity events. The new system includes the ca- pability to communicate with other police forces. This vital feature will assist officers to talk with other forces while in their areas or during joint forces activities. The district communication centre features a computer-aided dispatch board with room for five to six dis- patchers. Each centre will be equipped with telephone, radio and computer equipment designed to speed dispatching and enhance offi- cer response times. Trapper Retires - When Sgt. Glenn_O'Rourke was transferred re- cently to the OPP communications system in Mount Forest, his faithful German Shepherd Trapper was retired. Music at Blyth BLYTH - The Blyth Festival Singers and Georgian Bay Commu- nity Choir join forces on Saturday, April 29 at 8 p.m. at Blyth Memo- rial Hall in a special musical cele- bration called Songs for a Festive Spring. This marks the second year that the two choirs have done a joint concert, featuring a broad style of music. There's music that will appeal to everything, even the Blyth Festival Singers own theme song that was writtcn especially for them by An- gus Sinclair (music) and Mary }learn (lyrics). It will be the public premiere of this new song. Also in- cluded in the concert will be a brass quintet featuring talented musicians from the region. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food R MAKE A DIFFERENCE WANT.E • Seed Barley Growers • fiul esc.�;��l�r��. PTthiums paid For more'information contact your local \JrH©MPS� O r t BEANS Iii: GRAINS Soaforth 345-2545 Ailsa Craig 293.3223 SEEDS Hensall 262.2527 N FERTILIZERS Mitchell 348-8433 Granton 225-2360 New System - Constable Wayne Moulton of the Goderich detach- ment and Sgt. Gord Barker of Burlington and formerly of Lucan try out the new OPP communications system. 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