NAPS launches new general inquiry line

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service has launched an anonymous toll-free general inquiry phone number for Nishnawbe Aski Nation community members.
“The new general information line — 1-855-847-NAPS — is a general information line for NAN citizens to call for events and activities, presentation requests, NAPS career questions and information and also general inquiries,” said NAPS Const. Chris Carson. “It is not designed to get rid of Crime Stoppers or discourage people from calling Crime Stoppers in any way.”
In emergency situations, community members should still call 1-888-310-1122.
To leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers, call 1-800-222-8477 or leave a web tip at www.thunderbaydistrictcrimestoppers.
“That (Crime Stoppers) number is very effective,” said NAPS Sgt. Jackie George, noting the anonymity of people who call Crime Stoppers is protected. “All the police services in the area have made successful drug and other types of arrests through the tips that Crime Stoppers has received.”
The local Crime Stoppers coordinator, Ontario Provincial Police Const. Jason Disher, said any Crime Stoppers tips provided from the NAPS communities are passed on t0 NAPS for investigation.
“They remain totally anonymous,” Disher said. “There is no call display and there is no call tracing. For the people that are calling Crime Stoppers, we want them to know that there is no way that anybody is going to find out who they are.”
The new NAPS toll-free general inquiry phone number was launched after requests from NAN chiefs for a way for community members to contact NAPS in non-emergency situations.
“They want a number to call for many various reasons,” George said. “So (NAPS Chief of Police Claude Chum) has provided this toll-free number that people can call and leave a voice mail and get more information.”
Carson said community members can use the new general inquiry line to call for extra police services at community events and activities, such as gatherings, elections or tournaments, to ask NAPS to set up presentations on different topics, such as drug issues, to ask NAPS to provide more information on how to become a NAPS officer and to make other general inquiries.