Expanded police services board moves one step closer

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West Perth has had its own police services board since the municipality disbanded its own police force in the Town of Mitchell and joined the OPP.

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Expanded police services board moves one step closer Back to video

Some time in 2024, when West Perth’s current OPP contract is scheduled to expire, a larger regional police services board will be formed that also encompasses North Perth and Perth East.

During its July 26 meeting, the West Perth board received correspondence from the Ministry of the Solicitor General that detailed the formation of the new board.

“Your patience has been greatly appreciated while all proposals went through a thorough review process,” said Sarah Caldwell, assistant deputy minister, strategic policy division, in the letter.

“At this time, I am pleased to confirm that the Perth County OPP detachment board proposal has been approved by the solicitor general to the next step in finalizing the board compositions, which is posting the composition on the Ontario Regulatory Registry. The ministry is currently working on drafting the regulation, which is expected to be available on the Ontario Regulatory Registry for public comment in the summer or fall.

“Posting of the regulation is one of the last steps before the regulation can be finalized in advance of bringing the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 into force in early 2024.”

The posting outlines a new police services board comprising eight members: three municipal councillors, three community representatives and two provincial appointments serving all of West Perth, North Perth and Perth East.

“Much like all of us, I think we’re still waiting for the actual implementation to come,” OPP Insp. Wendy Burrow said. “We haven’t had any more information than you have as to when we’re actually going to see the one detachment, one board model come in.”

West Perth Coun. Steve Herold, the current board chair, said the ministry correspondence means “we’re getting closer.”

Currently, West Perth has two community members, June Demerling and Paul Wettlaufer, on its board, along with council representatives Mayor Walter McKenzie and Herold. A third community member, John Mogk, resigned last year and, with this impending legislation change, the board decided not to seek a replacement.

GRANT APPLICATIONS

The West Perth police services board encouraged the OPP to complete two potentially lucrative grant requests from the provincial government related to preventable auto theft and bail violations, which the OPP have conceded are two local problem areas.

Burrow informed the board the grants – a bail violation and warrant apprehension grant, and a preventable auto theft grant – would involve personnel, equipment, IT support and educational materials.

“One of the things the board has talked about in the past is the number of incidents that occur, or charges that are laid, while those charged are currently out on bail,” she said. “There could be extra resources and different investigative tools that we might be able to put into place to be able to better track people who are on bail, as well as enforce their bail conditions to make sure that we’re on top of it and monitoring it even more than we currently are.”

In terms of preventable auto theft, she said almost 90 per cent of incidents in Perth County are preventable because people are essentially leaving their keys in their cars and trucks. There’s also an increase associated with the copying of key fobs. The grant could provide resources to try to prevent this form of vehicle theft, as well as purchase radio frequency identification bags to help prevent it from happening.

“If we don’t try, we won’t get it. At least we can try and write a compelling case as to why it’s important for us in Perth County and West Perth to be able to put these grants into use,” Burrow said.

Any funds received through this grant process is fully funded and not matching, the inspector added. Applications are due by Aug. 21 and Aug. 28. The plan is to apply for both West Perth and North Perth detachments.

Burrow also told the board of a victims of crime support grant the detachment has also applied for that would help create a “soft” interview room in both Mitchell and Listowel detachments, making it easier and more comforting when it comes to interviewing victims of trauma, especially young children. The grants are partnered through both Optimist Place and Victim Services Bruce Grey Perth.

An existing room in the Mitchell detachment would be “spruced up” if the grant was successful, noted Acting Staff Sgt. Barry Cookson.

DRIVEWAY BLOCKAGE

A West Perth resident appeared before the board to seek a better solution to the problem of transport trucks routinely blocking his driveway.

Steve Seiler of 5872 Line 34 has lived at his current farm property, just on the eastern edge of Mitchell, since 1948. With the opening of a McDonald’s franchise in the Hammond Plaza adjacent to his laneway, an increase in traffic has resulted in some frustrating situations of vehicles, primarily transport trucks, blocking his driveway.

On the other side of his driveway is an automotive repair business that’s been there for three decades, and it appears as if his driveway is shared with the garage. He told the board he has placed signs on his property that don’t work, so he has to repeatedly chase away drivers, something he doesn’t like to do.

He also told the board he has had trouble with snowmobilers during the winter but has circumvented that issue somewhat by working with the trail association and rerouting a nearby trail. There still tends to be a group that gather in behind McDonald’s and further west at Tim Hortons, he said.

The board will inform Seiler via letter to formally contact the Ministry of Transportation and ask for larger and clearer signs, as it is technically that ministry’s jurisdiction.