Members of Sault Ste. Marie Police Service have been active in the city’s downtown since opening the Division 2 substation nearly two months ago.
New statistics shared widely by police via social media show that its presence downtown has generated some activity during the month of May, including:
- 81 hours of foot patrol
- 35 arrests made
- 79 provincial offences notices issued
- 11 bylaw tickets issued
- 70 people stopped by police
- 20 property checks
On Wednesday, Sault Police Interim Chief Brent Duguay told members of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board that the majority of the 35 arrests in May 2025 were made through the execution of warrants, with some resulting in police laying drug charges.
“We’re down there to make sure we’re protecting everybody’s private space and their public spaces, and we want to make sure that safety level is felt by everyone that wants to use our downtown core and our city in general,” Duguay said during the board meeting.
One person was referred to the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association during that same time period, according to statistics from Sault Police.
Duguay said the police service is currently looking at ways of “trying to increase that co-operation” with community partners in the downtown area.
Police have been meeting with the Community Resource Centre and the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board with the goal of boosting the number of referrals issued by police in an effort to steer individuals “away from the system,” Duguay told board members.
“We’re going to be out there enforcing the law as we need — with compassion, and using our discretion as well,” the interim police chief said.
A number of officers have recently been trained to conduct bike patrols downtown as part of the police service’s goal to increase its visibility.
“It brings a lot more visibility, and a lot more mobility for them to cover larger areas in the downtown,” said Duguay.
“It seems to be a great success — we’re hearing good feedback from people that have businesses down there, and we’re hoping to see that continue through the summer.”
Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker — who also happens to be a member of the police services board — is applauding the downtown police presence that’s been spurred on by the launch of Division 2.
“The Division 2 stats show the effort that went into establishing a downtown police presence is paying off,” the mayor told SooToday via email Friday.
“Residents and businesses are benefiting from it, and it is further proof why any future police station redevelopment should happen in the downtown.”