BELLEVILLE, ON – The Belleville Police Service, in partnership with community leaders and the Real Lives Touched by Addiction movement, hosted a Flag Raising Ceremony on February 5th in recognition of Preventative Health Awareness Month (PHAM) and in support of the Belleville Mental Health and Addiction Awareness Event. The ceremony, held at the Belleville Police Service, was attended by a diverse group of community leaders, all united in a shared commitment to advancing preventative approaches to mental health and addiction recovery. Families and individuals with lived experience stood in solidarity, underscoring the community’s collective drive to reduce stigma and foster understanding around these pressing issues. The flag raising represents a powerful call to empower individuals and families to take charge of their own health, while working to create long-term, community-centered solutions to mental health and addiction challenges. “This ceremony is a pivotal moment for our community,” said Jen McCutcheon, Founder

BELLEVILLE, ON – January marks the 50th anniversary of Crime Stoppers, and the Belleville Police Service is proud to recognize this milestone—one that holds special significance for the Quinte region. Crime Stoppers founder Greg MacAleese was born in Picton, Ontario, giving this globally recognized program deep local roots.  For five decades, Crime Stoppers has empowered the public to report criminal activity anonymously, removing barriers such as fear of retaliation or identification. While the methods of sharing information have evolved over time, Crime Stoppers remains a trusted and secure option for individuals who want to support police efforts while protecting their identity. The Belleville Police Service also recognizes the late retired Inspector Garnet Goodwin, a founding member and early champion of Crime Stoppers Quinte. His leadership and years of service as a board member and fundraiser helped lay the foundation for Crime Stoppers’ success in the Quinte region. Anonymous tips submitted

BELLEVILLE, ON – The Belleville Police Service announces the retirement of Sgt. Pat Comeau, effective January 31, 2026, marking the close of a remarkable 34-year career of service. Sgt. Comeau began his career as a Police Constable in the Uniform Division on July 15, 1991, quickly earning a reputation as a dedicated officer and natural leader. Over more than three decades, he served in a variety of roles, ending his career in the Training Unit, after being promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2022. His influence is reflected in the confidence and preparedness of Belleville Police members, leaving a lasting impact that will endure for years to come. Beyond his formal duties, Sgt. Comeau’s commitment to community engagement has been extraordinary. He is the founder of the Cops and Kids Fishing Derby, a beloved annual tradition for more than 18 years that continues to bring officers and youth together,

To the City of Belleville Crossing Guards, Every day of the school year, you are at your posts making sure children get to and from school safely. In all kinds of weather and through busy traffic, you show up. It is often a thankless job, but it is an important one, and our community is safer because of you. On January 19th, that commitment was especially clear. Residents across Belleville would agree that conditions were well below average. With heavy snow and wind gusts up to 70 km per hour, and near whiteout conditions where vehicles could barely see, many would have chosen to stay home. But you showed up. You stepped into challenging conditions to ensure children crossed safely and arrived at school without incident. Our annual Cops, Coffees, and Crossing Guards event is one small way we try to show our appreciation, but we would be remiss if

BELLEVILLE, ON – The year 2026 marks a significant milestone for the Belleville Police Service (BPS) as it celebrates its 190th anniversary. The official anniversary date is June 18, 2026, commemorating nearly two centuries of service to the Belleville community. As the anniversary approaches, we are excited to share pieces of our history and to tell stories that belong not only to the Service, but to the entire Belleville community. To help bring that history to life, the Belleville Police Service, in collaboration with Glanmore National Historic Site, is organizing a public historical display at the museum and is issuing a call for artifact donations from the community. Photographs, documents, memorabilia, and other historical items offer a powerful way for stories to live on. Community members who may have police-related historical items are invited to consider donating them for inclusion in the exhibit and for long-term preservation in one of

BELLEVILLE, ON – The Belleville Police Service is raising concerns about a growing backlog of Provincial Offences Act (POA) matters in Hastings County. These delays are now directly preventing timely justice, undercutting public confidence, and wasting the significant time and resources invested by Belleville Police officers. Significant delays in judicial availability are preventing POA matters from moving forward within expected timeframes. As cases reach the 15-month limit set by provincial guidelines, they must be withdrawn. Belleville officers’ complete investigations and meet every obligation, only to have cases dismissed because no judicial time is available. With only 85 judicial sitting days per year in Hastings County, timely scheduling is extremely limited. Early Resolution meetings cannot occur without a Justice of the Peace, and informal resolution options used in other jurisdictions are not available locally. While the Province is considering reforms such as allowing court clerks to accept guilty pleas, these measures