A group of Etobicoke Lakeshore residents saw the power of working with police, firsthand, by participating in theWalk the Beatprogram that allows citizens to meet up with officers in their community to take a walk and discuss areas and issues of concern.



“One of the women we were with had mentioned to police that there was a lot of public drinking in a park near where she resides,” said local resident Jeremy Sale, who joined in the walk alongside officers on February 27. “As she steered the group towards that park, we noticed a man who was trapped and clearly confused, injured and intoxicated,” said Sale, who said the man was near the bottom of the rocks, by the lake. “He was not well-equipped for the cold weather and could have died of hypothermia.”

Sergeant Jeff Alderdice attributes the rescue to the new program.

“The citizens in that community demonstrated, in the inaugural walk, that they are invested in community wellbeing and are part of the solution to quality-of-life issues,” he said. “If it wasn’t for this program, we wouldn’t have been there and that man might not be alive today. That’s positive proof thatWalk the Beat has already paid dividends.”

Sale said residents can’t assume the police are aware of all community safety issues and should voice their concerns.