The first of two town halls hosted by Thunder Bay Police Chief Darcy Fleury are in the books as part of an initiative to set the service up for success.

Speaking to media after the event Wednesday evening Fleury says he was glad to hear both positive and negative comments on the service, which will be integrated as best it can into a strategy.

“So the whole idea behind this town hall is to get the input from the community, talk to our people in our office and say ‘Okay here is our priorities set out by the board, here is our priorities set out by the city, province, that type of thing, and now here’s some input from the community’.”

Topics included how police respond to mental health and addictions calls, problem spots within the city, the increased drug and gang activity, a request from residents to see a return of community policing, mental health and well being for officers within the service, and funding avenues to cover the costs of policing among many others at the meeting which went past its original end time of 8:30 p.m.

Those who attended last evenings event say they were impressed with the openness and increased communication from the city’s top cop, including Jamie Cunningham.

“I was you know, happy with his answers, I thought they were well thought out. I think it does speak to a level of community engagement and really wanting better things for the city of Thunder Bay.”

A second meeting is slated to take place tonight at the West Arthur Community Centre starting at 6 :30 p.m. then there will be a hiatus until the late summer or early fall, when the townhalls will start up again.