Chief Walks Beat with YBBBA

The Chief walked the beat in 51 Division to talk shop with business owners.

Chief Bill Blair met with business owners and residents in 51 Division during a walkabout on a hot June 28 afternoon.

Accompanied by Yonge Bloor Bay Business Association co-chairs Gee Chung and Alex Stuart, Blair toured St. Paul’s Church on Bloor St., Spirits Bar & Grill on Church St., Progress Place, a recovery centre for people with mental illnesses, and the 519 Church St. Community Centre.

“This is a wonderful community outreach,” said Chung, who is also the president of the Greater Yorkville Residents’ Association that represents 29 residential buildings with nearly 4,000 residents.
“It brings the police and people in the area closer and shows them that the police are here to protect and help them. It’s a real positive experience."

“It’s great to have the Chief do this,” said Stuart, who is the managing partner of the Pilot Tavern on Cumberland St.

“He’s such a personable guy and everyone likes to come out and meet him. What is really important, though, is that the Community Response Unit officers are always out here interacting in the community and many of them are familiar in a good way with business owners and residents.”

Deputy Chief Mike Federico, 51 Division unit commander Supt. John Tanouye and Insp. Gary Meissner, Community Response Unit manager S/Sgt. Rudy Pasini and Crime Prevention Officer Lynne Robertson also participated in the walkabout along with auxiliary officers.

On his last stop at 519 Church, Blair sat down for tea with executive director Maura Lawless and development & community engagement director Matthew Cutler.

Source:  http://goo.gl/eiQwj