Following a rash of violent crimes in Windsor over the last three weeks, mayoral candidates in the city are talking about whether or not community safety needs to be addressed.

Robin Easterbrook is hearing from some residents who would like to see metal detectors installed in Windsor bars, but he doesn’t think that’s necessary. “Would that really have stopped what was going on (in the case of the Boom Boom Room shooting), or has it been successful in other locations, or is it trying to pay a fortune in metal detectors for something that’s really a non-issue,” says Easterbrook.

Drew Dilkens believes it’s simply been a stretch of bad luck for the city, but says it’s still concerning. “We take it real seriously because it impacts the image of our city, and it’s not the image that we’ve spent a long time and a lot of money trying to change.”

Larry Horowitz thinks the expansion of neighbourhood-focused programs is key in ridding Windsor of violent crimes. “The police work side-by-side with the residents of the neighbourhoods and institute programs and work together. I think that would go a long way in making neighbourhoods more comfortable.”

Over a week ago, a Windsor man was shot at the Boom Boom Room downtown, and there was a stabbing on Arthur Rd. Gun shots rang out in a Drouillard Rd. neighbuorhood last week. And about three weeks ago, a woman was robbed at gunpoint at a bank on Tecumseh Rd.

All three candidates were quick to emphasis the great job being done by Windsor police and EMS on a daily basis.