Aamjiwnaang's new dedicated Sarnia police officer position is being hailed as a big success.
In May, the First Nation selected Cst. Tyler Callander to be the first Aamjiwnaang Community Police Officer.
The police service said a few of the goals of the position include establishing a presence in the community through engagement and providing effective, efficient and culturally appropriate policing for community members.
During Thursday's police services board meeting, Callander shared what his experience has been like so far.
"I've really been able to build the trust in the community and build that relationship from a familiar face," he said. "To evolve, I think it's very important that they not only have that trust in me but other officers with the Sarnia Police Service as well."
Callender attends the First Nation every Monday and has a dedicated office at the community centre. He said the feedback he gets from residents is that accessibility is a big thing.
"With having an office there, it's a place that most of the people in that community are familiar with, they're comfortable going into, some of them are in there on a daily basis, and they know that they can come see me and just ask a question," he said. "Whether they want to make a report or don't make a report, whatever they want to do I can kind of offer them advice."
Callendar said he spends time with youth, elders and other community members outside of police work.
"I got to the school and read to the kids, I'll go to a seniors lunch and serve the elders lunch and sit down with them and they can address any concerns that they might have in their community," he said. "And that helps build the relationship as they get to see the familiar faces and learn that Sarnia police officers are just people too with families and things like that and can understand and empathize with the things that they're going through."
Callendar said when he first started, he went to Aamjiwnaang Chief Chris Plain and the band council for direction.
"They provided me with some issues and concerns they had and then I immediately made those things a priority," he said.
The police service and the First Nation began discussing the position back in February. Chief Plain said that he doesn't think it could've worked out any better, and Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis said the service wanted it to be good but they didn't realize it would be great.
The two parties are now working on outfitting a police cruiser with Aamjiwnaang and First Nation decals.
Callendar, who spent five years in the investigative detective office, said his new role is a good transition for him. He said he got to evolve and make it what he wanted to make it.
"That kind of appealed to me in that 'okay, this is kind of the first person to do this and a trailblazer and get to make it what I want' and so far, I think it's gone very well and I'm really enjoying and happy to be in the role I am right now." Callendar added that he's very thankful the band council chose him.