Residents had the opportunity to sit down with Brantford Police Service leadership on Thursday, September 11, during the “Coffee with the Chief and Deputy” event at Starbucks on Henry Street.
Chief Jason Saunders said the goal of the initiative is to create an open and informal setting for community members to connect directly with police leadership.
“It’s just an opportunity for people to come and ask us questions about the police department, if they have concerns about anything, they can come in and ask us one on one,” Saunders explained.
“We’ve met a lot of new people today and a lot of people have brought some great ideas forward about what they think they should see in their community.”
Among the top concerns raised by residents were traffic safety and noise. “One of the biggest concerns that people have brought up is traffic and the speeds at which vehicles travel,” Saunders said.
“A lot of people have also brought up loud mufflers. Every community seems to have a lot of loud vehicles travelling through it. Those are two areas that we’re going to take back to our Police Services Board and let them know the public’s telling us.”
The Chief noted that the service is addressing these issues through its traffic unit and collaboration with the City of Brantford. This includes monitoring high-risk areas for collisions and supporting enforcement around modified exhaust systems.
Beyond immediate concerns, Saunders highlighted broader challenges facing policing in Brantford, including rising violent crime, budget constraints, and recruitment difficulties.
“Ever since COVID, we’re seeing a decline in the people that are applying to become officers. We want to make sure that we’re getting the best possible candidates out there,” he said.
Saunders also encouraged residents to stay engaged with their police service.
“We’re part of your community. We hope that they’ll reach out to us if they have concerns, if they have questions—we’re always available for them. Sometimes people don’t reach out to us because they think that it’s a waste of time or they’re bothering us with small problems. We want them to know that there’s no such thing.”
The event was part of ongoing efforts by Brantford Police to strengthen relationships with the community.
