Northumberland County’s warden says the idea of having one county-wide police service for Northumberland is worth a second look.
Brian Ostrander endorses county council’s decision to hire a consultant to study the pros and cons of having a single police service, or a single policing contract for the county, instead of the three services that currently operate in Northumberland.
The Cobourg Police Service serves the Town of Cobourg, the Port Hope Police Service primarily serves the urban area of the Municipality of Port Hope, and the Ontario Provincial Police’s Northumberland detachment (with locations in Cobourg, Brighton, and Campbellford) serves the rural area of the Municipality of Port Hope, along with Hamilton Township, Alnwick-Haldimand Township, Cramahe Township, the Municipality of Brighton, and the Municipality of Trent Hills.
The review of police services delivered in Northumberland is intended to “ensure effective and affordable policing over the long-term as the community grows and changes,” Northumberland County noted in a news release.
County staff retained a third party, StrategyCorp, to take on the review.
Warden Ostrander said he proposed to council the motion of updating the 2007 study on the same issue for a few reasons.
“It showed there could be some fairly significant savings if there was an amalgamated service or one contract across the county,” Ostrander told kawarthaNOW. “I wondered if it was of interest to have that study updated, and it was.”
“Policing is expensive, and it should be. At the end of the day, we’re talking about a human resources-heavy service that is offered and these folks should be paid well. They’re putting themselves in danger for our safety and security on a day-to-day basis.”
Ostrander said having one police service or one policing contract across the county would require supervisory positions but could reduce the number of the current two police chiefs and one inspector down to one role.
There could also be an opportunity to reduce costs for equipment, vehicles, and civilian human resources staff in communities like Cobourg and Port Hope that have their own services, he noted.
StrategyCorp recently delivered to county council a presentation on the planned methodology, officially kicking off its work. With Northumberland expected to grow by 35 per cent over the next 25 years to a population of 122,000, the review aims to provide recommendations to structure and equip local police services to meet future needs.
“Northumberland County is undergoing transformational change and growth,” Ostrander said in the release.
“The principal direction of our newly adopted community strategic plan is to guide this growth with intention. As the mayors of Northumberland, county council recognizes the importance of assessing current policing practices and exploring all options to meet evolving community needs. Part of the strategic plan involves looking at opportunities for shared services.”
“Council holds local police services in the highest regard for their professionalism and dedication to community safety. This review seeks to ensure that policing in our community is poised for long-term success. We aim to equip Northumberland municipalities with the necessary insights to make informed decisions about ensuring the safety and security of our residents well into the future.”
The review will culminate in a comprehensive report for Northumberland County council’s consideration and next steps.
“At council’s direction, this review will encompass a thorough evaluation of current policing service levels, operational costs, and revenue streams,” said Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore in the release.
“The goal is to obtain recommendations for future service delivery, considering options ranging from maintaining existing service structures to exploring a combined model.”
A final report is expected to be presented to county council in the second half of 2024.
