Police Force Updates
| Town of Essex | Essex Police & O.P.P. Costing |
| Monday January 19th, 2009 | |
| ● Over the
past few years costs to provide municipal policing have risen
significantly placing an undue burden on the taxpayers an taking dollars
away from other municipal services. ● The cost to provide adequate and effective policing as mandated by the Ontario Provincial Government costs more for a small municipal service because there is no economy of scale that comes from shared specialty services. These are available with an O.P.P. contract. ● The Council of the Town of Essex wants to make sure that fiscally responsible government and services are delivered at the best price possible. This will allow Council to hold tax increases and free up dollars to improve the quality of life for all residents if policing can be delivered for less money. ● The neighbouring municipality that is almost identical to Essex pays over one million dollars less for adequate and effective policing delivery. Even larger municipalities pay less than Essex with the O.P.P. ● There should be no difference in service. Current staff will be employed with an O.P.P. contract or be dealt with fairly should they decide no to transfer. This will be considered an amalgamation should it move forward to completion. |
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| Kenora Police Department | |
| Monday January 12th, 2009 | |
| ● The police services board took steps
towards disbanding the local force Thursday, passing a resolution to
hire a Thunder Bay Lawyer to handle outstanding contract issues. ● The board called in the services of labour and employment lawyer Garth O'Neill to work with the Kenora Police Services Association to iron out serverance and possible retirement deals and develop packages for Chief Dan Jorgensen and Deputy Chief Ray Csuzdi. ● Meetings between the association and representatives from the provincial police have been scheduled for next week, which will update local officers how their possible move to the O.P.P. will be carried out. ● Board chairman Colin Wasacase expressed concern over the time lines set out by the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services' December 18th decision, which called for movement on outstanding issues within 30 days, saying weather and travel difficulties may cause delays. ● The board is waiting on a date for its appeal of an October court decision which upheld the city's authority to disband the service, he said. The board argued in Superior Court it holds the authority under the Police Services Act. ● The possibility of an injunction against the city folding the city police has been discussed, but no decision has been reached and Wasacase said the board must move forward on the commission's conditions in the mean time. |
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