Safe Communities Under New Leadership

Tuesday, 28 May 2013 11:22

Safe Communities Woodstock is now under new leadership. Current co-chairs, Police Chief Rod Freeman and Fire Chief Scott Tegler are handing over the reins as of June 1st. Kelly Farrell, First Aid Coordinator at the Canadian Red Cross will be the new Chair for the local injury prevent organization. Farrell believes her current position with Canadian Red Cross and knowledge will assist her with the new position. "I come from a long background of injury prevention. I'm the First Aid Coordinator at the Canadian Red Cross, before that I was a First Aid Instructor which the majority of our course is about preventing injuries. So, that in conjunction with all of the stuff I have learned through Safe Communities and being part of the Injury Prevention group as well I think putting all that together gives me a really solid, sound opportunity to be able to present the ideas that Safe Communities stands for". The Safe Communities Woodstock consists of a group of 17 community members which was brought together by the teamwork of Chief Freeman and Chief Tegler. Tegler says they view the Safe Communities as a good tool for the city on many levels. "We've looked at this as a good thing for our community to promote the community for anybody that wants to come here looking at to relocate, to come and live. I think it was a priority for us to make sure it got through, established and now with the changing of the guard, let Kelly take over and have her new ideas". Both Freeman and Tegler will continue to sit on the committee and work with the group to ensure Woodstock is a safe place to live, learn, work and play. Freeman feels the new designation will help clear some earlier confusion with Safe Communities and crime free communities. "I think there was just a bit of a misrepresentation every time I would get up in full uniform and represent the project, people immediately thought crime and crime reduction. Certainly that's a bit part of my career and our efforts here at the Woodstock Police Service, but the Woodstock Safe Communities project is directed more specifically at injury reduction".