Covid-19

Latest Updates on COVID-19

A Message of Thanks from Chief Larkin

To help slow the rate of COVID-19, the Waterloo Regional Police Service has altered some business and facility practices.

We remain committed to providing essential services throughout Waterloo Region. To maximize the service to citizens and ensure the health and safety of employees and the community, the Service has developed a recovery plan and implemented several health and safety measures.

Visitors to WRPS facilities will continue to be screened prior to entry.
Six feet markers have been placed on the floor to remind people to practice physical distancing.
Hand sanitizer stations have been set up at main entrances to aid proper hand hygiene.
To ensure physical distancing, limited entry has been imposed at some WRPS facilities.

North, Central, and South Divisions remain open, but visitors will be buzzed in upon arrival.

We encourage everyone to continue to do their part to limit the spread of COVID-19. Citizens are reminded to only visit Service buildings if necessary, schedule appointments when requested/required and adhere to physical distancing guidelines.

Community Programs and Meetings

All community programs and meetings scheduled to be held within WRPS facilities continue to be postponed until further notice.

Collision Reporting Services

Collision Reporting Services have remained open and continue to offer services at both our Police Reporting Centre at Headquarters and North Division in Waterloo.

Paid Duty Assignments

Paid duty assignments will be assessed on a case by case basis. Some essential paid duty assignments have been approved based on public safety and maintenance of regional infrastructure.

Sex Offender Registry

Individuals on the Sex Offender Registry are still required to keep regular appointments with the Waterloo Regional Police Service. WRPS has made other arrangements through alternative means to ensure compliance and regular reporting is adhered to. For those needing to make an appointment, please call 519-570-9777 ext. 8724.

Police Record Checks

Applications for police record checks can be submitted online only. Upon completion, you will receive an email to pick up your record check at the Cambridge, Kitchener or Waterloo Division. If your record check has been mailed, please wait for the mailed copy to arrive.

Essential workers will continue to receive priority queuing.

If you require fingerprints, you will be contacted regarding an appointment.

Please contact the Record Check Unit with any questions at recordchecks@wrps.on.ca.

Fingerprinting

Note to accused persons: If you have been charged with a criminal offence and have missed a fingerprinting appointment, you are encouraged to contact the Court Services Branch Fingerprinting Team at 519-570-9777 ext. 8111 as soon as possible.

Limited walk-in appointments are available without an appointment between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoons.

Fingerprint appointments needed for records checks continue, but are by appointment only. Please call the Records Check Unit at 519-570-9777, ext. 8900 to schedule an appointment.

Online Reporting

Citizens are reminded of online reporting. It is a quick and efficient process to reporting crime. Please visit our website to learn more. In the event of an emergency, please call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, call 519-570-9777.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate through these challenging times.

Self-assessment

If you have been travelling, or think you may have come in contact with someone with COVID-19, take the self-assessment.

Take the COVID-19 self-assessment

Resources on COVID-19

If you have any questions or concerns, visit Region of Waterloo Public Health for the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Waterloo Region.

Related Media Releases

March 25: Waterloo Regional Police Services Board Chair Releases Community Message

Waterloo Region, Ontario – Karen Redman, Regional Chair and Chair of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board, has issued a community message to reassure residents that essential policing services will continue despite growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

“Members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service have enhanced proactive patrols throughout the entire Region,” said Chair Redman. “I want to personally thank them for their work – which they do 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure you are kept safe – and that they are kept safe – during these unprecedented times. They are dedicated and committed to serving you and this community so we can continue to thrive and so that we can all come out of this pandemic stronger than ever before.”

The Region of Waterloo declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 to ensure a collective and coordinated regional response to protect community residents.

“This health crisis is something that must be taken seriously by every member of this community - and it must be taken seriously now. Each day the number of people affected continues to climb. It is imperative that we take appropriate action to reverse that trend.”

In her message, Chair Redman also called on the community to do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Never has there been a more important time to listen and to act on the advice of public health officials – stay home, practice social distancing, and incorporate good hygiene methods into your daily life.

If nothing else, let this State of Emergency declaration send a message – a message that you – that all of us - have a moral obligation to stop the spread of this virus. We can do it, but we have to do it together.”

View the Chair Redman’s full message on Youtube.

March 25: Waterloo Regional Police to Assist with Business Non-Compliance under Emergency Declaration

Waterloo Region, Ontario – In response to COVID-19, the Waterloo Regional Police Service will assist the Region of Waterloo Public Health with ensuring all non-essential businesses comply with mandatory closures.

On March 17, 2020, the Ontario Government made a declaration of a state of emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

Effective Tuesday, March 24,2020, at 11:59 p.m., the Ontario Government issued an order to have all non-essential workplaces close for a minimum of 14 days.

“As we continue to witness a rise in COVID-19 cases globally, nationally, and locally, we must all do our part to help minimize the spread of COVID-19,” said Bryan Larkin, Chief of Police. “WRPS continues to work collaboratively with Region of Waterloo Public Health, Emergency Services, our community partners and various levels of government to ensure the safety of everyone in Waterloo Region. We thank all businesses in our community for doing their part to keep our community safe.”

Any corporation that fails to comply with the order could face fines up to $10,000,000. Directors and officers of a corporation that fails to comply with the order could face fines up to $500,000.

To report non-compliance with businesses, please contact the Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-575-4400.

When required, members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service will attend to assist Public Health with compliance enforcement.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service remains committed to providing essential services throughout Waterloo Region.

We encourage everyone to do their part to limit the spread of COVID-19. Help us flatten the curve by practicing physical distancing and staying at home.

View the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act on the Government of Ontario's website.

March 17: WRPS Announce Service and Facility Changes in Relation to COVID-19

Waterloo Region, Ontario – To help slow the rate of COVID-19, public access to all Waterloo Regional Police Service facilities will be closed, effective immediately.

Essential service to the community will continue and officers will be dispatched to emergency and non-emergency calls on a priority basis.

In the event of an emergency, please call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, call 519-570-9777. Members of the community are also strongly encouraged to make reports online at on our website.

Additional measures that are being implemented to help contain the spread of COVID-19 include the following:

Community programs and meetings scheduled to be held within WRPS facilities have been cancelled or postponed until further notice.
Collision reporting services will continue on a limited basis at both our Police Reporting Centre and North Division in Waterloo.

The following services will be suspended until further notice:

Record Checks applications
Fingerprinting
Non-essential Paid Duty assignments
Sex Offender registry appointments

For regular updates on these and other Service changes, visit our website on our website.

Media Inquiries

Cherri Greeno

Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Information

Executive Branch

Waterloo Regional Police Service

519-570-9777 (WRPS) ext. 8773

cherri.greeno@wrps.on.ca

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March 16: Karen Redman, Regional Chair and Chair of the WRPS Board, Issues Open Letter to Community

To the Residents of Waterloo Region,

As COVID-19 continues to affect the lives of Waterloo Region residents, we must acknowledge that our community has a significant role to play in slowing the spread of this virus.

This global effort has now become a local one.

My priority, as your Regional Chair, is to do whatever I can to ensure your health and wellbeing.

To do so, I need your support.

I am asking that you – that all of us – unite together to do what is right - do not attend the unsanctioned St. Patrick’s Day event.

Any mass gathering such as this has the potential to cause a significant spread of this virus in our community.

We must each do our part to limit the spread of COVID-19, not just for ourselves, but for every resident of this Region, and every Canadian, who may be at risk of contracting this virus.

Your actions will determine the state of our local health and social support systems, and the ability to provide care to those in need.

Your actions will determine the capacity of our community to respond to emergencies, as paramedics, firefighters, and police continue to manage this unfolding pandemic.

As Canadians, we have a responsibility to help and protect each other. Together, we can do what is right and, together, we can help limit the spread of COVID-19.

March 13: A St. Patrick's Day and COVID-19 message from WRPS Chief Bryan Larkin

As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Canada, the Waterloo Regional Police Service continues to encourage residents and members of our Service to take action to reduce the impact of this virus on our community.

We continue to work with our community partners, including the Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services, and are committed to taking all precautions necessary to ensure your safety and well-being.

This includes an appeal to those who may be thinking of attending the unsanctioned St. Patrick’s Day event in Waterloo. As in previous years, I can assure you that our Service has a significant operational plan in place to respond to this event.

However, I want to remind residents of this community that we all have a part to play in public safety – this includes doing what is right for the greater good.

Today, what is right, is avoiding any mass gatherings where there is potential for the COVID-19 virus to spread.

Ask yourself – is one day worth it?

Is it worth making ourselves or our family members sick? Is it worth endangering the community or our first responders? Is it worth overwhelming our healthcare system?

I can tell you that the risk is simply not worth it.

You have the power and the responsibility to stay away from such events, meaning you also have the power and the responsibility to help control the spread of #COVID19.

My appeal to you is to stay home. Stay healthy. Stay safe.