Town council recommended to further explore OPP, report updates policing options

The ongoing policing issue will come back before town council April 14, with a recommendation to go ahead with exploring the Ontario Provincial Police  (OPP) option.

In a report from chief administrative officer (CAO) Valerie Critchley, she recommends that a “formal request be made to the Ministry of the Solicitor General for the provision of a Policing Resource Plan from the Ontario Provincial Police for policing in the Town of Amherstburg post December 31, 2028.”

A further recommendation calls for town administration to continue investigating various options available to the Town of Amherstburg with respect to policing post Dec. 2028.

Other options include sticking with Windsor, with Critchley’s report stating the matter would be brought before Windsor city council at an in-camera meeting April 14. 

Mayor Michael Prue and Critchley met with LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche, LaSalle CAO Joe Milicia and police chief Michael Pearce March 5, with Critchley’s report stating the meeting “was congenial and informative with the parties exchanging very preliminary information with respect to service levels, possible governance structures, order of magnitude costs and other potential operational issues. Specifics with respect to these issues will be provided to Council in closed session as they would form the basis for any future negotiations on this matter.”

Re-establishing the Amherstburg Police Service is also being investigated, with Critchley stating “a very informative meeting” was held with the chief and deputy chief of the Strathroy-Caradoc Police Service on annual operating and capital costs, sources of revenue and equipment costs.

The report from the Amherstburg CAO addresses the regional option that is detailed in the River Town Times story "County council members voice opposition towards regional police."

“As the financial implications of each possible model will play a role in future negotiations with potential service providers, those details will be presented to Council in closed session while negotiations are ongoing and will be then presented publicly once there are fully negotiated options available for Council to consider,” Critchley wrote in her report.

Town council recommended to further explore OPP, report updates policing options

By Ron Giofu