Homeless encampments dramatically decreased from last year

Police chief outlines busy year, next steps

Kawartha Lakes Police Chief Kirk Robertson is proud of many things from his short time as chief, including their collaboration with other community groups to confront homelessness.

At a recent Chamber of Commerce event, “Breakfast with the Chief,” Robertson said last year at this time there were 16 encampments in Kawartha Lakes, this years there’s two. As well from April to December of 2025, 52 encampments have been resolved in Kawartha Lakes.

“There’s no secret that homelessness isn’t a policing issue. Quite often we are the go-to. People will call because they don’t know where else to call,” Robertson said. He credits this decrease of encampments to a group effort by KLPS, by-law, A Place Called Home and Ross Memorial Hospital.

In his update to the community at the breakfast, the chief noted he wanted to hire more staff, something that was accomplished this year. KLPS hired 13 new staff, including four new officers and four special constables who are set to start in February.

Robertson’s police career began 30 years ago and he reflects on the changes he has seen over that time period.

“Investigations that might have taken two or three hours when I first started, now with disclosure requirements and other administrative requirements, they take six (or) seven hours to complete. The special constables will be able to assist with that, which will then in turn allow our police officer to get back out in the streets, serving our community the way we…expect them to,” Robertson said.

These new hires are essential to a force that last year received more than 16,700 calls for service. This year they’re averaging 1,300 calls per month, and from those calls an average of 200 criminal charges are laid per month, making clear KLPS is busy.

In March alone they received 3,200 calls in the first five days of the ice storm, and 4,900 transmissions over the radio system.

Robertson also took time to acknowledge the community response teams, one that deals with mental health and another that responds to substance abuse. “(The teams) will not let up if they think there’s a hope that someone’s going to take them up on our offer (of help). They will continually engage them to help, because not everyone’s as receptive as we would hope they would be to get those services until they’re ready.”

Last year the mental health team had interactions with 870 people, both on a primary response and follow up basis, and the substance abuse team had 640 interactions. Together the teams put in 4,200 hours. The chief also announced that soon the substance abuse team will go from being out two days a week to three in the community.

As for what Robertson hopes comes next, he wants more staff. He’s found that having four new officers has already decreased the police burnout on his force. “The biggest thing for me is the mental health and well-being of my people.”