RIPTB Highlights Community-Focused Policing at the Réseau Intersection Colloquium
For two days, the École nationale de police du Québec (ENPQ) in Nicolet became the centre of provincial and international reflection on community policing, as the Réseau Intersection Colloquium brought together police services from across Quebec along with invited partners from abroad. The Régie intermunicipale de police Thérèse-De Blainville (RIPTB) was proud to participate in an event that continues to shape how police agencies address the social realities facing their communities.
The Réseau Intersection, created to support the development of police de proximité in Quebec, has built a strong reputation for offering concrete, research-based approaches to public safety. Each year, the colloquium focuses on practical strategies to improve the relationship between police and the public, particularly in areas involving prevention, mental health, vulnerable populations, youth engagement, and coordinated intervention with municipal and social partners. Held in collaboration with the ENPQ, the gathering is recognized as one of the province’s key platforms for advancing modern policing.
One of the distinguishing features of this year’s edition was the participation of several representatives from Belgium, a country widely known for its national commitment to proximity policing. Belgian police operate under a federal framework that mandates local anchoring, regular contact with citizens, and a shared responsibility between police zones and municipalities. Their contribution to the colloquium brought a valuable international perspective, especially in discussions about multidisciplinary intervention teams, crisis response protocols, and long-term prevention planning. Their experiences offered points of comparison and reflection for Quebec services, including the RIPTB, which has long integrated similar principles into its daily operations.
Throughout the event, discussions repeatedly returned to the evolving nature of police work. Many presenters highlighted the rise in calls linked to mental health, homelessness, substance use, and other complex social challenges that require close coordination with external partners. Others examined the role of schools, community associations, and municipal agencies in reinforcing early prevention. This emphasis on shared responsibility mirrors the RIPTB’s ongoing commitment to maintaining strong ties with local organizations, municipal councils, and citizen groups, ensuring that policing remains centered on collaboration rather than simple response.
The Service de police de Richelieu–Saint-Laurent, which oversaw this year’s organization, ensured a fluid and well-structured program, with sessions that stayed grounded in real-world experience. Their leadership contributed significantly to the event’s success and to the quality of the exchanges taking place throughout the colloquium.
For the RIPTB, the experience served as both a reaffirmation of its long-standing philosophy and an opportunity to engage with new ideas. The conversations in Nicolet made clear that effective public safety relies not only on patrols and investigations, but on presence, prevention, dialogue, and trust. The colloquium emphasized that community policing is not static; it evolves with society’s needs and with the willingness of police services to adapt and learn.
As the RIPTB returns to its territory, it carries with it the insights, partnerships, and renewed motivation inspired by the colloquium. The two days at the ENPQ highlighted the strength of collective reflection and offered powerful confirmation of the central role that proximity, understanding, and cooperation play in building safe and resilient communities.