As Belleville Police celebrate their 190th anniversary today, we have received another huge reminder of the most important way they keep us safe everyday.
Yesterday, they released details of a series of drug searches and seizures which resulted in hundreds of pills, huge amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, several firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition being taken off our streets.
A total of eight people face charges, including six from Belleville.
Thanks to members of all the units involved in this operation, including the Intelligence and Street Crime Unit, Emergency Reponse Team and (of course) the Canine Unit featuring our favourite furry crimefighter Bax, who found a firearm in a hidden compartment.
As we take time to celebrate with those who protect and serve today, we must never forget the battles they are fighting on the streets and the dangers they are removing before they have a chance to change or end lives of local citizens.
This operation alone resulted in the seizure of more than a kilo of both cocaine and fentanyl, hundreds of pills, several handguns (four of which were loaded), and more than 200 rounds of ammunition including dozens of hollow-point bullets.
There is no telling how much damage, how many deaths and the lingering cost in terms of lives, grief and addiction this could have caused in Belleville.
For 190 years, the Belleville Police Service has protected us from this and many others dangers and today, we should all take time to say “thank you”.
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.
