SPS Major Case Action Team (MCAT)
In April of 2024, the Sarnia Police Service recognized that community crime concerns were growing and expected to worsen as summer approached. This was supported by internal analysis of statistics and crime trends. In order to better meet these growing demands, the Sarnia Police Service created a new unit called the Major Case Action Team (MCAT). This plain clothes unit was tasked with offender management, drug enforcement, and major case support. It is a 2024 pilot project, created through the amalgamation of the former VICE and Street Crime units, remains under the Criminal Investigations Division.
The team consists of 8 officers (7 Detective Constables and 1 Detective) supported by a civilian Investigative Analyst. MCAT most recently was responsible for the recovery of the George Street School bell. In the past four months, the team has been very active in multiple criminal and drug investigations. In that short time, the team has produced the following:
- 73 arrests
- 51 CDSA (drug) charges
- 112 Criminal Code Charges
- 28 Firearms related charges (5 firearms seized)
- 12 Search Warrants executed
- 37 Arrest warrants executed
- Currency seized: $29, 140
- Fentanyl seized: 732 grams ($109,800 street value)
- Cocaine seized: 430.6 grams ($51,480 street value)
- Crystal Methamphetamine: 575 grams ($28, 750 street value)
“This new team has demonstrated some great enforcement results in just a few short months. Given some of the crime challenges we are facing in our community, we were very fortunate to have put MCAT in place earlier this year. Given the positive results so far, we do expect MCAT to continue for the remainder of 2024.”
- Chief Derek Davis, Sarnia Police Service