Bridging Services: Ottawa and Gatineau Police Morning Meeting

This morning, Acting Sergeant Sébastien Lemay of the Ottawa Police Service’s Community Policing Central District and Constable Joël Larente of the Gatineau Police Service’s Section de résolution et actions préventives de quartier met on the Alexandra Bridge—symbolically linking the two cities they serve.

Their meeting highlighted a simple truth: Ottawa and Gatineau may be separated by a river, but the realities their communities face are very similar.

 Both officers spoke about issues their services encounter daily: social disorder, citizen concerns, and the need to build trust through presence and response. By comparing experiences, they found common ground in the solutions that have already shown success—listening to community members, taking their concerns seriously, and responding with concrete action.

“We hear many of the same things from residents on both sides of the river,” said Acting Sgt. Lemay. “By working together, we can learn from one another and strengthen our approaches.”

As the officers discussed hot-spot policing and proactive patrols, a passerby stopped to thank them for being on the bridge that morning—a reminder that police presence helps residents on both sides of the river feel safe and supported.

One shared success is the use of 529 Garage, a community-driven program designed to fight bike theft. Both the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG) use the tool to help victims recover stolen bicycles and to prevent thefts before they happen.

Looking ahead:

The partnership between OPS and SPVG goes beyond this morning’s meeting. Before the end of the year, officers from both services will cross paths at policing events that focus important topics relevant to both cities.

Through open communication and partnership, OPS and SPVG are reinforcing the message that policing is stronger when borders do not divide efforts.

As they stood on the Alexandra Bridge—half in Ontario, half in Quebec—Acting Sgt. Lemay and Constable Larente embodied the spirit of collaboration. Different uniforms, different jurisdictions, but one reality: serving communities that share space, challenges, and opportunities.