Bail enforcement arrests more than double in Windsor as police step up monitoring

More people have been arrested for bail infractions in Windsor. CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Maru reports.

A specialized police unit monitoring high-risk offenders on bail made more than double the number of arrests last year compared to the year before, according to new data released by Windsor police.

The unit recorded 118 arrests in 2025, stemming from breaches of court-ordered release conditions — including curfews, house arrest and electronic monitoring — and the numbers come as police also investigate several recent cases involving people accused of cutting off their GPS ankle monitors while out on bail.

Police say the increase reflects more active supervision, not necessarily an increase in crime.

The arrests were made by the Offender Management Unit, a joint initiative between the Windsor Police Service and the LaSalle Police Service, which focuses on people considered high risk while awaiting court proceedings.

In 2025, the unit completed 312 bail compliance checks, ran more than 21,500 GPS monitoring checks, made 118 arrests related to bail breaches or outstanding warrants, and prepared 98 bail packages for the courts outlining an individual’s history and risk factors.

Steve Rettig, a constable with the Windsor Police Bail Compliance Unit, said much of the work involves repeat offenders who continue the same behaviour that led to their original charges.

“They oftentimes just go right back into the same lifestyle that they were in that got them into trouble in the first place,” Rettig said, speaking with AM800 Friday morning.

The statistics were released days after Windsor police announced the arrests of four individuals accused of cutting off their GPS ankle monitors while on bail.

In each case, police allege the individuals removed their court-ordered monitoring devices and went into hiding before being located and arrested. All now face additional charges related to failing to comply with their release orders.

CTV News public safety expert and retired OPP commissioner Chris Lewis said repeat offenders are a reality for police services across Ontario.

“Police are dealing with the same people over and over. The recidivism on bail issues is significant,” he said.

According to Lewis, ankle monitors are not difficult to remove, but tampering does not go unnoticed.

“Cutting off a monitor is not difficult,” Lewis said, comparing it to tampering with bike locks or school lockers.

“But when it’s cut, an alarm goes off. That monitoring company notifies police, and an investigation starts.”

He compared the process to a home alarm system, noting police are typically alerted within minutes.

Lewis said public frustration over people reoffending while out on bail is understandable, but decisions about release rest with the courts.

“Judges and justices are making decisions based on what’s put before them,” he said.

“When high-risk people keep getting released and reoffend, that’s a failure of the system — not a failure of the police.”

The Offender Management Unit was launched in March 2024 and is funded through a $2.27 million provincial grant as part of Ontario’s broader effort to strengthen bail supervision.

Rettig said many offenders were initially surprised to learn a dedicated bail compliance unit even existed.

“They had no idea who we were,” he said.

“When we explained this was a new unit and that bail compliance officers would be doing checks, they were absolutely shocked. Some had never experienced a door knock to check their curfew before.”

While not everyone changes their behaviour, Rettig added, police have seen improvement in some cases.

“Some offenders we dealt with at the beginning, after a few encounters, we don’t have to deal with anymore,” Rettig said.

“Not all of them, but some.”

According to Rettig, the unit’s role goes beyond enforcement and extends into education.

“We tell people the better you comply, the less you meet us,” he said.

“Part of our role is trying to keep people on track. We’re not just there to arrest. We also connect them with work or community resources when we can.”