Board responds to Timmins Police Association concerns

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Timmins Police Services Board has issued a statement in response to a Nov. 20 Timmins Police Association press release.

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“The Timmins Police Services Board wishes to address the concerns raised and provide the public with a comprehensive overview of the current situation,” said Kraymr Grenke, chair of the board.

“First and foremost, the Timmins Police Services Board acknowledges the challenges faced by the Timmins Police Service in recruiting and retaining officers and civilian members.

“This trend is unfortunately prevalent in police services across the country.”

According to Statistics Canada, there has been a notable decline in active police officers nationwide over the past year.

“We understand and empathize with the Timmins Police Association’s concerns regarding the personnel crisis affecting the community and have been at the table trying to find solutions to moving forward as an organization,” Grenke said.

“With the Timmins Police Association earlier this year, we came together to create incentives for both recruitment and retention that have garnered attention in policing across the province.

“We have successfully hired three direct transfers and 10 cadets this year.”

Grenke noted the board is fully committed to upholding the standards outlined in the Police Services Act.

“Despite the recruitment and retention challenges, our priority remains ensuring the safety and well-being of the community,” he said.

“We appreciate the dedication and hard work of our uniform officers and civilian members, who consistently go above and beyond their duties to maintain public safety.

“It is important to note that, despite the personnel challenges, the Timmins Police Service continues to provide essential policing services to the community.”

Grenke indicated while some reassignments have occurred within specialty units, community policing efforts, and critical partnerships, such as the agreement with Ontario Health for the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Unit, remain intact.

“Our focus is on maintaining a level of service where prompt responses to both urgent and non-urgent calls are ensured, distinguishing us from situations in larger communities where citizens sometimes experience delays of days in receiving police assistance,” he said.

“Recruitment and retention in law enforcement have been long-standing concerns in the province of Ontario, and we commend the government for taking steps to address these issues, such as waiving tuition fees for officers attending the Ontario Police College.”

In response the association’s concerns about the potential number of retirees in 2024 and beyond, Grenke added, “There are people eligible for retirement, but we have not received formal notice of any retirements at this point.”

While Timmins Police service has an approved complement of 96 officers, it currently has 85.

Regarding the association’s request for assistance from the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, Grenke noted the board welcomes open communication and collaboration.

“We are committed to providing the Ontario Civilian Police Commission with relevant data to facilitate a constructive dialogue about the services we are delivering within our community,” he said.

“The Timmins Police Services Board remains dedicated to working closely with the Timmins Police Association and the Senior Officers Association, both uniform and civilian members, to address the challenges at hand and ensure that our community continues to receive the quality policing services it deserves.

“We are working with both associations on retention and recruitment. We have brought forward ideas and implemented items to look at retention. That conversation recently has been weekly between the board and the association and will continue.”

Grenke indicated the path forward for the selection of the new chief, to replace Daniel Foy, whose retirement was announced on Saturday, will be deliberated at our next board meeting, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 14.

Foy had been appointed police chief in February 2021. His retirement was immediate, with Deputy Chief Henry Dacosta being appointed acting chief and Inspector Darren Dinel acting deputy chief, while the board searches for permanent replacements.

“There are advantages to both sides of having someone from the internal and someone from the outside being the next chief of police,” he said.

“Fresh perspectives are always welcome, both from external partners and internal members.

“We have seen retirements in different ways, and we thank Chief Foy for his dedication to our community and thank him for his 30 years of policing.”