Const. Nick Dupuis is hoping to be a familiar face to many Amherstburg residents.
Dupuis is now the community services officer with the Windsor Police Service – Amherstburg Detachment and he has been busy meeting people and getting to know the community better.
“My job is community engagement,” said Dupuis. “There’s no exact game plan for my position.”Dupuis said he is free to go around the community and relate to people, noting he has been in and out of a number of businesses chatting with owners and staff and finding out if there are any needs that can be addressed.
“One of the biggest parts of my job is the schools,” he said.
Dupuis said he conducts the Values, Influences and Peers (VIP) program at local Catholic schools but is also wanting to work with other grades and let them know the police are there to help.
“I’m hoping I can connect with other grades as well,” said Dupuis, adding he gives safety talks to students in JK and SK students at École St.-Jean Baptiste.
“Probably one of the most important parts of my job is to connect with the public in a positive way,” he continued.
Dupuis also attends places like the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission to meet with people, get to know what people think and what they need.
When a police officer gets called, it’s often for an emergency or has a negative connotation such as giving a traffic ticket or an accident. There is a friendly side to police, he added, and he wants to bring that out.
“It’s about showing them we’re regular people too,” said Dupuis. “We’re nice people who go home to our families.”
Dupuis started his policing career 18 years ago in Toronto, where he spent part of that time with the community response unit. He came to the Amherstburg Police Service in 2013. After joining Amherstburg police, he wasn’t in patrol long before he went into criminal investigations.
When Windsor police began policing in Amherstburg, Dupuis went back into patrol but jumped at the chance to become the community services officer when the opportunity arose.
“I’m really enjoying it,” said Dupuis. “The schedule is a little different for me.”
Dupuis said he is new to social media but is trying to use that to reach the public as well. He said he often just parks his cruiser and goes out and talks to people. He also plans to conduct fraud seminars at places like Seasons Amherstburg Retirement Community.
Dupuis added he hears from people that they don’t know the officers as well as when Amherstburg police was patrolling the streets and he is looking to change that.
He wants to continue to meet with people and get his face known. His hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and can be reached through the police station at 519-736-3622.
New community service officer assumes new duties in Amherstburg
By Ron Giofu