Lasalle police rated excellent

Lasalle police have been given rave reviews by residents in their annual customer service survey.

More than 80 per cent of the 190 Lasalle residents who participated in the 2011 report said the overall service of Lasalle police was excellent. In other categories, including response time and officers’ ability to resolve a situation, the majority of responses said the service was excellent, rather than the other options of good, fair and poor. Less than one per cent of responses rated anything on the survey as fair or poor.

Chief John Leontowicz said the survey is conducted on an ongoing basis over the phone.

“What it does is it gives the public an opportunity to have some oversight,” Leontowicz said. He added the survey is a way to reach out to the public to ensure the police force is providing the service they are paying for.

“We’re constantly drafting policies and procedures on a weekly basis, just ensuring we can improve upon certain areas and just ensuring we are viewed as a professional and compassionate police service.”

Enzo Mancuso, who has lived in Lasalle for 25 years, said although he didn’t participate in the survey, he agrees “100 per cent” with the results.

“Lasalle police are fantastic,” Mancuso said. “Ever since I’ve lived here, they’ve been great.”

Mancuso has had two instances where he needed the help of Lasalle police and in both cases he said their response time was prompt and they were very helpful. He added he takes comfort in always seeing Lasalle police throughout the town patrolling the streets on a constant basis.

The ratio of Lasalle police officers to the population of the town allows the police force to provide better services, according to resident Nancy Peters, who has lived in the community for more than 50 years. She said this allows them to be a lot more attentive to residents.

“I have no complaints about them at all and all the people that I’ve talked to or known who have had incidents with Lasalle police have all had a good and positive outcome as well,” Peters said.

Peters said it is important for police officers to be approachable and communicate well with the public. She said because LaSalle police are very friendly and easy to talk to, they don’t fit the stereotype of a police officer being intimidating.

Leontowicz said these numbers have remained the same since he initiated the survey a decade ago.

“It’s all about public confidence,” Leontowicz said. “To be honest, 30,000 people, if the truth be known, that is who our bosses are and that’s who we answer to.”