NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE POLICE SERVICE
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The Barrie Police Service (BPS) is inviting members of the community to join us for a Community Conversation Series focused on the use of technology and artificial intelligence to support crime prevention, investigations, and public safety.
The open house discussions will take place at the downtown Barrie library at 6:30 p.m. on March 17 and March 31.
The series will feature a panel of experts presenting both advantages and concerns related to these technologies to ensure a balanced discussion.
The first session on March 17 will focus on new technology and feature panel speakers Ryan Fritsch from the Law Commission of Ontario, Shakir Rahim from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and BPS Chief Rich Johnston.
Ryan Fritsch is legal counsel with the Law Commission of Ontario. He leads law reform projects considering the impact of artificial intelligence in Ontario’s criminal justice system, the impact of technology on workplace surveillance, and modernizing consumer protection in the digital marketplace. Ryan is a frequent public speaker and lecturer, with over 10 years’ experience teaching law students at the Osgoode Hall Law School and University of Windsor. Ryan is also a doctoral candidate at Osgoode Hall researching the data broker industry in Canada.
Shakir Rahim is a lawyer and director of the criminal justice program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA). He oversees and executes advocacy strategies to protect and develop Charter rights in criminal law, hold police accountable, and defend prisoners’ rights. His work includes strategic litigation management, public outreach and education, and engagement with policymakers in a range of fora. Prior to joining CCLA, Shakir practiced criminal law and acted on significant public interest matters, such as co-leading the campaign to establish the Independent Civilian Review into Missing Person Investigations concerning the Toronto Police Service.
Chief Rich Johnston was sworn in as the 10th chief of the Barrie Police Service on Dec. 22, 2022. Chief Johnston has been with the Barrie Police Service since 1998, serving in a variety of roles throughout the service, including uniform patrol, tactical support, operational support, and investigative services. He holds an honours bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Queen’s University, a master’s in leadership studies from the University of Guelph and a master’s degree in applied criminology and police management from the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom). Chief Johnston joined the senior command in 2018 as an inspector, and was appointed as deputy chief in 2021. In 2022, Chief Johnston received the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Excellence in Leadership Award and was inducted into the Evidence-Based Policing Hall of Fame at the Centre for Evidence-Based Crime Policy at George Mason University.
The second session on March 31 will concentrate on facial matching technology, with panellists from Ontario Tech University including:
- Dr. Peter Lewis, associate professor of computer science and Canada research chair in trustworthy artificial intelligence
- Dr. Christopher O’Connor, associate professor of criminology and justice
- Dr. Kanika Samuels-Wortley, associate professor of criminology and justice and Canada research chair in systemic racism, technology and criminal justice
- Dr. Andrea Slane, professor of legal studies
These sessions will provide the public an opportunity to learn about the proposed technologies, ask questions, and share their concerns and suggestions in an open and transparent environment.
Public engagement plays a key role in shaping this process. A public survey will be available ahead of the open house sessions to gather community perceptions and concerns, which will be addressed during the sessions.
“Technology can be a very effective tool in law enforcement and public safety,” said Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston. “Avoiding these advancements would be a disservice to our community. We are dedicated to being transparent about the tools we use and earning the public’s trust through open and respectful conversations.”
The sessions will be livestreamed for anyone unable to join in person. Please visit BarriePolice.ca for more information on the sessions, including a link to the survey and the livestream, which will be available in the coming weeks. The survey is also available here: surveymonkey.com/r/BPSTechnology.
Event details
Location: Downtown Barrie library, 60 Worsley St. — Angus Ross Room
Dates: March 17 and March 31, 2026
Time: 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m. Join us for light refreshments.)
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