Sarnia Police Headquarters on Christina Street. December 6, 2018. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, BlackburnNews)Sarnia Police Headquarters on Christina Street. December 6, 2018. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, BlackburnNews)
Sarnia

Sarnia police implement new team as part of pilot project

The Sarnia Police Service is recognizing the work of a team created in the service earlier this year.

Earlier this year city police created a new unit called the Major Case Action Team (MCAT) following community crime concerns.

In January, Sarnia police saw an increase in high-risk calls to start off 2024.

MCAT is a plain clothes unit which is tasked with offender management, drug enforcement, and major case support.

Sarnia Police said it is a pilot project created through the amalgamation of the former VICE and Street Crime units and remains under the Criminal Investigations Division.

The team consists of 7 Detective Constables and 1 Detective which is supported by a civilian Investigative Analyst.

Recently, the MCAT team was responsible for the recovery of the George Street School bell that was stolen last month.

Police said over the last four months the team has been active in multiple criminal and drug investigations.

The team has produced:

-73 arrests

-51 CDSA (drug) charges

-112 Criminal Code charges

-28 Firearms related charges (5 firearms seized)

-12 Search Warrants Executed

- 37 Arrest warrants executed

-Currency seized: $29,140

- Fentanyl seized: 732 grams ($109,800 street value)

-Cocaine seized: 430.6 grams ($51, 480 street value)

- Crystal Methamphetamine: 575 grams ($28,750 street value)

"This new team has demonstrated some great enforcement results in just a few short months. Given some of the crime challenges we are facing in our community, we are very fortunate to have put MCAT in place earlier this year," said Police Chief Derek Davis.

It is expected the team will continue for the remainder of the year.

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