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Chief of police responds to recent abduction

In response to the recent abduction of a newborn baby from the Sudbury Regional Hospital, Police Chief Ian Davidson released a statement congratulating the efforts of his officers, the OPP and the helpful tips received from people across the province
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In response to the recent abduction of a newborn baby from the Sudbury Regional Hospital, Police Chief Ian Davidson released a statement congratulating the efforts of his officers, the OPP and the helpful tips received from people across the province.

BY IAN DAVIDSON, Chief of police, City of Greater Sudbury

The unthinkable happened in our community recently; a newborn baby girl was taken from a local hospital by a total stranger.  From just about any viewpoint it was almost impossible to comprehend. From a parent’s perspective, words are inadequate to explain their helplessness and sense of profound loss.

What happened after the abduction, however, can be explained with words such as intensity, cooperation, tireless effort, commitment and professionalism. Let me provide some insight into events of that day.

Within a minute of being notified of the abduction, the first police officers of the Greater Sudbury Police Service arrived on scene. The hospital was in the process of a lockdown and an immediate search of the facility followed. When it became apparent the missing new born was not in the hospital, the focus of the search was expanded. Within minutes of gathering necessary information, exit points in the city were blocked by Sudbury and Ontario Provincial Police officers.

Excellent photographs and video surveillance captured on the hospital surveillance cameras were immediately available to investigators and uniform personnel. An Amber Alert was issued with a description and photographs of a suspect carrying the baby. These images - distributed across the province and around the world - proved to be critical to the safe recovery of the infant.  Within a few minutes of that first alert, tips from the public began to stream in. In fact, there were so many calls that officers and civilian staff were swamped in very short order. 

A number of off duty police officers and civilian members voluntarily attended police headquarters and went to work. The initial responding officers who were now at the end of their shift refused to leave. Court security staff arrived when the courts closed and began answering tip lines. Civilian employees of the Service stayed on after their shift helping investigators with the information flooding into the station.  The O.P.P. North East Region Senior Commander attended G.S.P.S. Headquarters to assist with the co-ordination and deployment of their members.

Within a few hours, a citizen in the Kirkland Lake area heard about the abduction in the media and recognized the suspect. Almost simultaneously, hospital staff in North Bay called the North Bay Police Service with information which identified a potential suspect who then passed the information along to the investigative team. In addition, an O.P.P. officer upon seeing the surveillance photos recognized the person and began to respond accordingly. Vital assistance from the Anishinabi Police Service was received providing information in assisting law enforcement agencies who had already started to check known locations for the suspect. In the interim, local Sudburians began to search their own properties and the surrounding hospital neighbourhood in the event the baby had been left unattended. 

Approximately seven hours after the initial call, we were advised that the baby was found alive and apparently healthy by Ontario Provincial Police officers. The prayers of many had been answered.

During the final hours of the ordeal, the Greater Sudbury Police Service was in the process of hosting its Annual Awards Night that had been planned for some time.  Police officers of all ranks who should have been at the ceremony were at checkpoints, taking calls, running down leads and doing everything possible to assist with the investigation. However, just as the ceremony was winding down I received news that everyone was hoping for. I announced the safe recovery of the infant to a loud appreciative cheer.  It was a wonderful end to the evening and reinforced the importance of the citizen and police contributions being honoured that night.

The successful outcome of this incident has served as a reminder of why people join the police profession and why the profession is such a vital component of the communities we serve. The loyalty, professionalism, tireless effort and dedication displayed by all police personnel, hospital partners and citizens across Ontario was extraordinary and serves to remind us of our collective and significant roles in public safety.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to everyone from the members of the Greater Sudbury Police Service to our police partners, the media, the citizens who mobilized and those who simply prayed.  At a time of desperation for a family and child in need of immediate protection, Ontario witnessed the best of what we all stand for, and what we all deserve.