July 15, 2021
Integration of PDQs 31 and 33: more effective teams combined under the same roof
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In spring 2022, staff at neighbourhood police stations (PDQs) 31 and 33 will be combined at the new PDQ 31 located at 8245, avenue de l’Esplanade. At the new modern premises based in the centre of the district, police officers will benefit from increased operational flexibility to better serve citizens in Villeray and Parc-Extension.
Multiple benefits
One of the main objectives of the integration of PDQs 31 and 33 is the robustness of work teams, as we say in police jargon. “With more police officers working at the same police station, we will have greater room for manoeuvre on a day-to-day basis”, explained Commander Jean-Sébastien Marcotte, Chief of the future integrated PDQ 31.
Another benefit will see the Parc-Extension area being able to rely on a Project Action Module or MAP, following the completion of the integration. A MAP brings together police officers with diverse expertise to combat a local issue. Combining staff from the two PDQs may also lead to the creation of new services being envisaged.
New carefully chosen location
The integration will also solve the problem of lack of space. Police officers from PDQs 31 and 33 feel cramped in their current premises, which are not the best adapted to respond to people’s needs. For example, PDQ 31 was originally … a park chalet.
The situation will be completely different at the future PDQ 31. Freshly renovated, it will offer everything that is needed to work effectively and serve citizens in the area: offices, communal areas, working rooms to meet partners, etc. The site was also chosen due to its central location, which will enable optimal response times to calls from across the area.
Maintained services and ties with the community
The integration will also not lead to staff reductions in the area. No police officer or school crossing guard position will be eliminated. Local services and ties formed notably with community relations officers will also be maintained. Their participation in neighbourhood life will continue and remain a priority for PDQ 31. “Our approach based on proximity and prevention resulting from the neighbourhood police model will stay the same. It is deeply rooted in our values and will not be called into question by an address change”, summed up Commander Marcotte.
To find out more about the integration of PDQs 31 and 33, please read the presentation on the project
Do you have any questions?
514-280-0033
TO FIND OUT MORE
Consult the presentation in pdf format
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. When will the integration of neighbourhood police stations 31 and 33 take place?
The integration will take place in spring 2022.
2. Where will the new neighbourhood police station 31 be located?
The new neighbourhood police station will be known as neighbourhood police station 31. It will be located at 8245, avenue de l’Esplanade in Montréal. The premises are modern, central and accessible to everyone on foot, by bike, bus, metro and car. Metro stations Jarry and De Castelnau are just a few minutes away by foot.
This building was chosen because its central location helps us to provide optimal coverage of the area.
3. What is an integration?
It is the twinning of two units at the same premises. In the case of this integration, neighbourhood police stations 31 (Villeray) and 33 (Parc-Extension) are being pooled.
4. What are the reasons for this decision to pool these two units?
The current premises for PDQs 31 and 33 are no longer adapted to police needs and too cramped to host new police officers. In addition, the current lease for PDQ 33 has not been renewed and the police officers have had to move out of the district. There was consequently an opportunity to be seized to pool the two units.
Their integration at the same premises will bring many advantages to the SPVM and citizens. Combining our headcounts at one neighbourhood police station will mainly provide us with greater robustness and operational flexibility.
As from spring 2022, the new PDQ 31 will bring together over 110 police officers, 34 school crossing guards and 4 civilian employees.
5. Is this integration exercise not rather aimed at reducing the headcount and making savings?
No. In terms of human resources, the integration will not lead to any job losses. An administrative employee will be reassigned elsewhere at the SPVM, as allowed in such cases. This integration will improve organizational performance as well as the robustness of work teams. Savings should nevertheless be achieved on a medium to long-term basis, mainly by reducing the costs of fixed assets.
6. What will the integration change in your approach towards citizens?
Our approach will not change. We will remain close to people, form part of the community and provide a service adapted to the specific needs and realities of the areas served by the new PDQ 31. We will continue to work in partnership with elected officials, partners and citizens, while respecting our mission and our organizational values.
The approach taken by a neighbourhood police station is based on developing solid and sustainable ties with the community. Proximity with people is deeply rooted in the SPVM’s organizational values and practices in the field. It will not be affected in any way by a relocation of one of our neighbourhood police stations.
7. What new features will the integration bring to your ways of doing things?
The pooling of our gendarmerie activities at a single larger neighbourhood police station will provide us with more operational flexibility. This will help us to optimize our activities and enhance our service offering to citizens.
With this additional room for manoeuvre, PDQ 31 will be able to adjust its services based on the specific needs of citizens and partners. Services such as the foot and bike patrols, MAP[1] (project action module) will be maintained, developed or enhanced in view of the increased robustness resulting from integration.
8. What will be the impact on staff?
All police staff will be maintained following integration. Only one civilian employee will be reassigned elsewhere in the organization.
9. I am in contact with staff with whom I have been working for a long time. What will happen over the upcoming months and following integration?
Your links with our members of staff will not change. The staff with whom you are in contact on a regular basis and who monitor your files (community relations officers, road safety officers, lieutenant, neighbourhood police officer) will be present before, during and after the integration. We highlight that all staff will be integrated in the new unit, with the exception of one civilian employee who will be reassigned in the organization.
10. How can I contact you over upcoming months and after the integration?
The telephone numbers and email addresses that you currently use to communicate with staff at PDQs 31 and 33 will stay the same. The reference contact details will also stay the same following integration. For example: 514 280-0433 to contact the community relations officers at PDQ 33 will still be operational after the integration.
11. I have read all the information presented in this section but I have not found all the answers to my questions. How can I contact you?
For more information on the integration of neighbourhood police stations 31 and 33, please read the presentation available on our website on the integration of PDQs 31 and 33.
If you do not find all the information you are looking for, there are two simple ways for you to contact us:
Integration.3133@spvm.qc.ca Email:
Tel.: 514-280-0033
Please send us your questions. We will be pleased to reply.
[1] The project-based action module is an addition to the neighbourhood police station. Its members are part of an operational team that functions on a project basis. The projects allow for strategies to be developed and intervention plans to be put in place to obtain a long-lasting desired result that is based on an identified problem. This module brings together, in one location, police officers with various expertise, giving them better capacity to take action (investigations, information, prevention, enforcement etc.).
