Windsor police hired to patrol downtown library

Windsor police are not just walking city streetsthey've also started patrolling stacks of books to protectlibrary patrons.

The Windsor Public Libraryhas hired police officers to monitor the central libraryas a proactive measure to take on drug activity and violence.

"Because this is a public building, it's open to everybody. [Making sure] everybody feels welcome and they feel safe, that is a really high priority for us," explained the library's CEO Kitty Pope.

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Police will be walking around the building and checking entrances and bathrooms. Pope would not specify when the police will be at the library or for how long.

'Keeps the criminals out'

Jesse Moore visits the library a few times a week and saidhe has witnessed drug activityand fights in the public space.

He's hopefulan increased police presence in the library could end some of those issues.

"It's not a bad idea, it keeps the criminals out I guess and keeps the scholars in," he said. "There is nothing wrong with that."

Richard Kabanaw comes to the library twice a week to bring his young daughter to the EarlyON Child Centre. He said he used to feel safe in the library but not for the past few years.

"Now that the homelessness and the drug activity is picking up downtown, it is making it less admirable to come you don't know how safe you are," he said.

Although Kabanaw said he will be happy to see the police in the building, he doesn't think having more officers around will addressthe larger issues in the city's core.

"It's not going to prevent any activity that goes on here that shouldn't be," he said. "It is just going to help people stay safe a little longer."

Feedback from patrons has been positive

Library officials said this isn't the only safety protocol they have in place. Over the years, staff havedropped the height of the shelves, implemented better sight lines and increased activityon the floor.

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Pope said so far, the feedback from the library patrons has been positive.

"They will be at the computer, they will see one of the police service folks walk by, stand up and shake their hand."