The new police building: it's bright and spacious
Part of Local History Collection
Photographs in the Bradford Witness on the new Bradford Police building at 1 Holland Street West. The Bradford Police Service moved from the town hall to this building in 1976.
Bradford Witness
South Division station opening the doors to the Community
Part of Local History Collection
Article on the newly built police station for the South Simcoe Police on Melbourne Drive. The South Simcoe Police moved here in January, 2008 from their old station at 45 Holland Street East. The South Simcoe Police was created from the amalgamation of the Bradford Police Service and the Innisfil Police Service on January 1,1997. The 45 Holland St East building was demolished in June 2009.
Bradford West Gwillimbury Times
Policing in Bradford West Gwillimbury
Part of Local History Collection
Contains files and articles relating to the history of the Bradford Police Service and, after 1997 with the amalgamation with Innisfil's police force, the South Simcoe Police Service.
Police in Bradford history:
The Bradford Police Service was established in the early 1900s, though it only featured one Town Constable until it teamed up with the Ontario Provincial Police on January 1, 1949. These Provincial Constables lived in the area. By 1951, the OPP office was located at the corner of Holland Street and Barrie Street, and the Bradford Police in the Town Hall.
The Bradford Police moved into their new building at 1 Holland Street West, the former Canadian Bank of Commerce (where the jail cells were in the old bank vault) on September 25, 1976. They then moved in early 1980 to 45 Holland Street East, the building right to the west of the Town Hall and Courthouse.
In 1997, the Bradford Police Service and the Innisfil Police Service amalgamated into the South Simcoe Police, and the South Division (Bradford) branch was designated at their station house at 45 Holland St. East. The motion to amalgamate was first turned down in October of 1996 only to be revived by support from Mayor Frank Jonkman and other prominent citizens as a cost-saving method for the police forces. The Town Council voted in favour of the motion on November 12, 1996.
On April 15, 2005, when it was revealed that the new administrative building (where the current Leisure Centre and Library reside) would not be able to hold the police as well, a discussion began about a new building for the South Simcoe Police. It commenced construction in 2006. The South Simcoe Police began to move into their new South Division headquarters at 75 Melbourne Drive in February, 2008, with full services transferred over by August, and the old headquarters at 45 Holland St East was demolished on June 24-26, 2009. This is where the current South Simcoe Police reside.
In March of 2017, the issue surrounding the cost-saving methods of the amalgamation was brought up in Bradford West Gwillimbury town council again. Information is currently being gathered to see how cost-effective the South Simcoe Police service is run.
Police revert to former phone numbers
Part of Local History Collection
Article about the Bradford Police Department changing phone numbers. At this time, the Police Department was moving from the Town Hall to 1 Holland St. West.
Bradford Witness
Part of Local History Collection
Article about the amalgamation of the Bradford and Innisfil Police Departments discussed by the Committee of the Whole.
Bradford West Gwillimbury Times
Part of Local History Collection
Article about the amalgamation of the Bradford and Innisfil Police Departments and the preliminary hearing by the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services (OCCOPS). The BWG Town Council defeated the proposed bylaw in their own town council meeting.
Bradford West Gwillimbury Times
Part of Local History Collection
"The amalgamation of the Bradford West Gwillimbury and the Innisfil Police Services, forming the new South Simcoe Police Service, is planned to take effect January 1st, 1997. Renovations are already underway at the Bradford Police Station, which will be the new South District headquarters, housing an expanded communications and dispatch centre."
Bradford West Gwillimbury Times
Part of Local History Collection
Article about the amalgamation of the Bradford and Innisfil Police Departments.
Bradford West Gwillimbury Times
Ont. Provincial Police Set Up New Detachment in Bradford
Part of Local History Collection
"A Headquarters Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, covering the southern part of No. 7 (Barrie) District, is to be located in Bradford, according to information given The Witness this week.
The new local police set-up is expected to go into effect January 1st, or as soon as convenient living quarters can be secured. The detachment will consist of five men, all of whom will reside in and work from Bradford.
The personnel of the detachment will comprise Provincial Constable D. Adair, now of Gravenhurst, Provincial Constables C. Kreuger and R. Murphy, now of Bond Head; Provincial Constable George Herries and Provincial Constable H. Sparling, both at present located here.
The town will continue to be policed by Provincial Constables Reg. Wilson and E. Morrison, who have been in charge here of late."
Bradford Witness
Old town of Bradford... Getting a new look
Part of Local History Collection
Article about the renovations at the Edmanson Hotel (71-73 Holland St East), the Village Inn (2 Holland St East), and the new South Division Police Station (75 Melbourne Drive).
Bradford West Gwillimbury Times