This is an Update on a Public Information
Session held on Tuesday evening, March 10th, concerning the recent
decision to transfer the police dispatch function to the Owen Sound Police
Service.
Several members of Midlandcommunity.ca
attended this very important meeting on your behalf. Given there was no media present to report on
the event, this update may be especially significant as your only source of information
about the meeting.
BACKGROUND
In response to ongoing budgetary
pressures, the Police Services Board (PSB) was requested by Midland Council to
re-visit the 2015 budget and make recommendations on cost reductions in the
police service. Several years ago when confronted with this same pressure to
reduce costs, the Police Chief proposed outsourcing dispatch, a step that has
become quite common for many small municipal police departments trying to
achieve economies of scale. The previous PSB never saw fit to proceed with the
proposal.
Midland’s new PSB in tandem with the
Police Chief saw this proposal as a viable way to achieve significant long-term
savings (approximately $250,000 annually) without compromising public safety.
The plan will see Owen Sound handle Police dispatch for Midland later this year
– a service they currently provide for seven other Police Forces.
The transitional process requires a public
meeting as well as an Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) hearing likely
to occur within the next 60 days.
Some 40-45 people attended the information
session. Likely half of the attendees were Police employees. Also attending
were several current and past Councillors, with the balance of attendees
representing the broader community.
PSB Vice-Chairman Stewart Strathearn
chaired the meeting. Also in attendance to support the decision and answer
questions about the transition were PSB member Mike Ross, Chief Mike Osborne,
and the Owen Sound Police Chief. The purpose of the meeting was clearly stated
upfront - to deal with the consequences and implementation of the decision and
not the decision itself. While everyone remains saddened that outsourcing
dispatch results in local job losses, the reality is that year over year costs
for policing are simply not sustainable particularly in a small, “no growth”
community.
It is important to re-state that both
Chiefs assured all in attendance that public safety was not at risk and not a
consequence of this decision.
The public is encouraged to express support,
concerns or other views to the OCPC regarding this difficult, but in our view
necessary, decision.
Please write or fax to:
Ontario Civilian Police Commission
Suite 605
250 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON M7A 2T3
Fax: 416-314-0198
Roy Ellis on behalf of midlandcommunity.ca
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