Guelph Police Service

What Guelph Police Service does

The Guelph Police Service is a municipal law enforcement agency serving the City of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1827 and currently led by Chief Gord Cobey with Board Chair Peter McSherry. The service is governed by the Guelph Police Services Board under Ontario's Community Safety and Policing Act, with operational accountability to municipal council. It employs between 251 and 500 staff operating from a single headquarters at 15 Wyndham Street South, with 24/7 emergency response via 911 and non-emergency response at 519-824-1212.

The service delivers traditional policing functions (emergency response, non-emergency and online reporting, collision reporting, criminal investigation, road safety, drug enforcement) alongside a broad portfolio of community safety programs and technology tools, including Connect Guelph Camera Registry, Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR), Guelph Police Service RPAS (drones), Crime Map, 529 Garage bicycle registration, Buy & Sell Zone, Project Lifesaver (FM-tracking for vulnerable persons), Vulnerable Persons Registry, IMPACT integrated mobile police and crisis team for mental health response, and the Community Watch platform. A 2024-2027 Strategic Plan organizes operations around six priorities: Community Policing, Community Wellness, Organizational Health and Service Effectiveness, Road Safety, Downtown Safety, and Investigative Excellence.

The operating model is tax-funded rather than commercial. Municipal taxation is the primary revenue source, with ancillary fee-based services (police record checks, police reports, FOI requests, alarm permits, record suspension applications, local file closures) governed by municipal by-law. Customer segments span the general public (primary), local businesses, vulnerable populations (human trafficking, intimate partner violence, missing persons), and youth. The service maintains a multi-channel public engagement presence across its website, Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and YouTube, alongside a network of partnerships with Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington, Victim Services Wellington, Guelph-Wellington Women In Crisis, provincial ministries, and the HCEIT hate crime network. No revenue, valuation, or commercial financials are publicly disclosed.

Name

Guelph Police Service

Legal name

Guelph Police Service

Website

https://guelphpolice.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1827

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Guelph Police Service is a municipal law enforcement agency serving the City of Guelph, Ontario, providing 24/7 emergency response, criminal investigation, road safety, and community safety programs under a tax-funded model governed by the Guelph Police Services Board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Law Enforcement Services

NAICS

Police Protection (92212), Police Protection (922120)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Police Services (Patrol, Response & Community Policing) (BPAIAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Event Traffic, Parking & Perimeter Security (BPAKACAJ)

Keywords

• Municipal law enforcement
• Emergency police response
• Crime prevention programs
• Community safety services
• Victim support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Guelph

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Guelph Police Service is a municipal law enforcement agency delivering 24/7 emergency and non-emergency police response, criminal investigations, road safety enforcement, victim support, and crime prevention across the City of Guelph, Ontario. It supplements core policing with community safety programs (Project Lifesaver, IMPACT crisis team, Connect Guelph Camera Registry, 529 Garage, Buy & Sell Zone), youth engagement (KICKz Soccer, Kids and Cops Fishing, THINK Initiative), and fee-based transactional services (police record checks, reports, freedom of information requests, alarm permits). Operations are delivered through headquarters customer service, telephone, mobile patrol, and online self-serve channels.

Product overview

The Guelph Police Service is a municipal police agency providing law enforcement and community safety services to the City of Guelph, Ontario. The service operates as a unified offering combining traditional policing functions with technology-enabled community safety tools. Core operational services include emergency and non-emergency reporting systems, police record checks, collision reporting, crime investigation, and specialized units (Canine Unit, RPAS/drones, ALPR). The service differentiates through community-focused programs including the Connect Guelph Camera Registry, 529 Garage property registration, Buy & Sell Zone safe transaction space, and Project Lifesaver for vulnerable persons. Youth engagement programs such as KICKz Soccer and Kids and Cops Fishing build police-community relationships. The 2024-2027 Strategic Plan guides operations across six priorities: Community Policing, Community Wellness, Organizational Health, Road Safety, Downtown Safety, and Investigative Excellence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connect Guelph Camera Registry: Public safety program enabling residents to register their security cameras to assist with investigations.
• Project Lifesaver Guelph Wellington
• KICKz Soccer Program
• Kids and Cops Fishing Event
• IMPACT

Products and services

• Non-Emergency Online Police Reporting System 24/7 online platform enabling residents to submit police reports for property damage, theft under $5,000, lost property, credit card and Internet fraud, gas drive-offs, and traffic complaints, and to print copies at no cost.
• Police Record Checks Three types of background checks available to Guelph residents: Criminal Record Checks, Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Checks, and Vulnerable Sector Checks.
• Crime Map Interactive public mapping tool displaying crime statistics and incident locations throughout Guelph to inform community awareness.
• Connect Guelph Camera Registry Public safety program enabling Guelph residents to register their security cameras to help police investigate crimes and keep the community safe.
• 529 Garage Bicycle and Property Registration Bicycle and property registration program helping track and recover stolen items.
• Buy & Sell Zone Dedicated safe meeting space at police headquarters on Fountain Street East for residents conducting online buying and selling transactions.
• Project Lifesaver Guelph Wellington Program using FM radio-tracking bracelets for individuals with Alzheimer's, Autism, or cognitive impairments prone to wandering; reports a 100% find rate with average 30-minute location time.
• Vulnerable Persons Registry Registry program for vulnerable community members to assist police in providing appropriate support during emergencies.
• IMPACT (Integrated Mobile Police and Crisis Team) Crisis intervention team combining police and mental health expertise to respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
• Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) License plate scanning technology used to identify stolen vehicles, vehicles connected to crimes, and unregistered vehicles.
• Canine Unit Police dog unit supporting frontline operations including locating missing persons and suspects, tracking and apprehending offenders, and evidence recovery.
• Guelph Police Service RPAS (Drone Program) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (drone) program used for aerial surveillance and support operations.
• KICKz Soccer Program Annual barrier-free soccer programming for local youth, delivered in partnership with Guelph Soccer and community organizations; running for 19 years.
• Kids and Cops Fishing Event Annual youth fishing program connecting police officers with community youth, celebrating its 15th year.
• Junior Citizen Award Annual award program since 2006 recognizing individuals under 18 who positively impact their community during police-related incidents.
• Community Watch Platform sharing photos of individuals and vehicles of interest during ongoing investigations to seek public assistance identifying suspects.
• Open Data Portal Transparency initiative providing public access to police service data and statistics.
• THINK Initiative Online safety education program teaching youth the THINK framework (True, Hurtful, Illegal, Necessary, Kind) for responsible digital communication.
• School Safety Program Educational program providing police training to school staff on human trafficking, internet child exploitation, prevalence, signs, and dangers, including a professional development day that trained ~900 Wellington Catholic District School Board staff members.
• Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspection Joint commercial-vehicle inspection blitz delivered with Waterloo Regional Police Service and provincial ministries; a recent blitz inspected 264 commercial vehicles and removed 59 from service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 30-minute location time for missing persons with Project Lifesaver
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington (CSGW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025Partnership for anonymous and confidential crime reporting. CSGW offers guaranteed $2,000 cash reward for information leading to arrests on selected Human Trafficking offences. Partnership includes joint awareness campaigns and community education on various crime types.
• Victim Services Wellington (VSW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025Agency providing support to victims of crime and tragedy. Participated in joint human trafficking awareness video project. Offers resources including Project Lifesaver program and operates 24/7 support line.
• Guelph-Wellington Women In Crisis (GWWIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025Local women's crisis agency participating in human trafficking awareness initiatives and supporting survivors. Provides public education and support services for survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking.
• Ministry of the Solicitor General (Ontario)coreOthers · 25 March 2025Provincial ministry providing funding and support for human trafficking conference and various police initiatives. Grant provider enabling specialized projects and training.
• Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario)coreOthers · 25 March 2025Provincial ministry providing information on prosecution efforts for human trafficking cases and supports available to victims and survivors throughout the legal process.
• Guelph SoccerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community organization partnership for KICKz soccer program providing barrier-free soccer access for local youth. GPS members volunteer time to teach soccer skills and build relationships.
• West Village Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community organization partner in KICKz soccer program for youth.
• Canadian National Sportfishing FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Donor supporting Kids and Cops annual fishing event through equipment provision.
• CBM AggregatesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Donor supporting Kids and Cops annual fishing event.
• Canadian Tire CorporationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Donor supporting Kids and Cops annual fishing event through equipment provision.
• Waterloo Regional Police ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Host of joint commercial vehicle inspection blitz. Guelph Police Traffic Unit participated alongside multiple police services and provincial ministries.
• Hate Crime and Extremism Investigative Team (HCEIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Network of 26 police services coordinating intelligence gathering and providing specialized support on hate-motivated crime investigations. Guelph Police Service is a member.
• Wellington Catholic District School BoardmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2024Educational partnership for human trafficking and internet child exploitation awareness. GPS officers provided training to approximately 900 staff members at professional development day on prevalence, signs, and dangers of these crimes.
• Jasmine De FinaminorOthersNationally recognized human trafficking consultant, trainer, and survivor who provided keynote presentation at March 2025 conference on human trafficking.
• Devon ClunisminorOthersInternational Police and Leadership Consultant who provided closing presentation at human trafficking conference on building community unity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Toronto Police Service: Ontario's largest municipal police service, employing many officers who later move to smaller services like Guelph. Comparable core mandate (patrol, response, investigations) but operates at much larger scale and metropolitan complexity.
• York Regional Police: Ontario regional police service operating under the same provincial legislation. Comparable in offering specialized units (e.g., drones, K9, ALPR) and community safety programs at a larger scale.
• Peel Regional Police: Larger Ontario regional police service with comparable mandate to deliver patrol, investigations, and community programs. Larger scale but serves as a referent for technology-enabled policing and ALPR deployment.
• Ontario Provincial Police (OPP): Provincial police force with overlapping mandate in Ontario, particularly for highway enforcement and rural areas. Adjacent in services but operates as a broader incumbent with provincial rather than municipal scope.
• RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police): Canada's national police force providing federal policing and contract policing to municipalities. While not a direct municipal peer, it is the national counterpart in Canadian law enforcement and federal program counterpart.

Emerging players

• Project Lifesaver International: Non-profit organization that provides the FM radio-tracking technology adopted by Guelph Police's Project Lifesaver program. A peer/partner in the vulnerable person monitoring niche that the service has localized.

Direct peers

• Halton Regional Police Service: Ontario municipal/regional police service of comparable size and suburban-urban mix. Operates under the same Community Safety and Policing Act and offers similar community policing and traffic programs.
• Waterloo Regional Police Service: Neighbouring Ontario municipal police service that co-hosts joint operations with Guelph Police (e.g., commercial vehicle inspection blitz). Directly comparable in size, mandate, and Ontario regulatory framework.
• Hamilton Police Service: Ontario municipal police service of comparable scale and similar mixed urban-suburban jurisdiction. Comparable community policing model, specialized units, and governance under the Community Safety and Policing Act.

Others

• Axon Enterprise: Major law enforcement technology provider supplying body cameras, records management, ALPR, and drone solutions used by police services including smaller Ontario municipal forces. Indirect technology peer/enabler rather than direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GuelphPolice
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GuelphPoliceService
• Facebookfacebook.com/GuelphPoliceService
• Instagraminstagram.com/guelphpoliceservice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/guelph-police-service

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Guelph Police Service