Beyond the Headlines – Lauren Wilkinson

I would like to take a few moments to say Happy Anniversary to a vital member of the local communications landscape. It was around this time last year...

I would like to take a few moments to say Happy Anniversary to a vital member of the local communications landscape. It was around this time last year (late June actually) that Belleville police hired Lauren Wilkinson to be their new Strategic Communications Coordinator. I had the chance to meet her in person shortly after that, and have spoken to her countless times since including last night (by text) during an active search in the city’s west end.

It is very rare for police services of any size to invest in this kind of position, but let me now say without any hesitation that it is money very well spent. Communication between our news department and Belleville Police has always been good through active engagement and a real investment by both parties in keeping the community well informed. It has only improved over the past year, with greater access, faster response times, more complete and accurate information, and the start of an evolution in the image of the service itself which we saw on full display during the recent 190th anniversary celebrations.

Belleville Police have a vital and very challenging role in our community providing security, investigating crimes, pursuing and arresting offenders, keeping the peace, and assisting in dealing with community challenges like homelessness. Time spent preparing releases is time spent away from what they do best. Thankfully, they now have Lauren to back them up and let me say openly and on the record that we all couldn’t be in better hands!

I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.