'A critical point': York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween talks up new Newmarket police station

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 9, 2022

In the last few years, York Regional Police has been busy building up their physical footprint around the region.

Replacing old and outdated buildings in favour of new, state-of-the-art facilities.

So far, the service has been brought up to date with a new marine unit headquarters in Georgina, a substation in King, a training centre in East Gwillimbury, the headquarters in Aurora and now a new 1 District police station in Newmarket.

“We’re done for now,” said Chief Jim MacSween on the prospect of building any major new facilities following the new location on Harry Walker Parkway South, opening to the public on Jan. 10.

Some of the new building's specs include its cost ($26.7 million), length of construction (1.5 years), building size (49,500 square feet) and size of property (almost three acres).

It now houses 200 members and serves 200,000 people across Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King and small parts of Vaughan and Stouffville.

And while no longer in Newmarket’s historic town centre like the police's former Prospect Street location, MacSween says he believes people will be happy with the services provided to residents.

“This is a community police station, it’s part of the community, it’s a bit of a pillar,” he said, explaining the new building also boasts new community rooms for use by residents. “I used to work at the front desk and I always enjoyed speaking to people … many just need someone to speak with for resources, or advice. Things have changed with online reporting, but I know the community likes to communicate with the police and they can still do that.”

Meanwhile, the old downtown station, which is more than fifty years old, is being retrofitted and will continue to be used by the force, where MacSween expects to have a “visible presence.”

He said a side benefit will be that police will no longer have to use local downtown parking spots, which they had to while at the Prospect location, where parking was always a headache.

It’s not only residents who will be uplifted by the new building, he said.

Staff will also benefit, with features including natural sunshine, shading and ventilation along with two moss walls.

The new building will also allow officers the ability to conduct video testimony from the district rather than officers spending their day in the courthouse. Prisoner processing can also be improved, MacSween said, with video remand technology, bringing technology in line with the courts.

MacSween said that along with an upgrade in facilities, he’s also dedicated to improving the ranks within the force, with new mental health initiatives while better reflecting the community in which it serves.

“We’re at a critical point at looking at the profession to really move the bar to make it inclusive and equitable … I look at this as an opportunity,” he said. “There’s no better time.”

He explained he's looking forward to getting out in the community more to meet people and hopes there will be a grand opening for the new station in coming months with the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions.