Gignac returns to Windsor Police Services Board

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Ward 6 Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac is once again a member of the Windsor Police Services Board.

The six-term city councillor who served on the board from 2011 to 2019 was sworn in at police headquarters downtown on Tuesday morning.

“I am delighted to be back,” Gignac said. “I enjoyed my time on the Windsor Police Services Board. The eight years that I was here, I served as vice-chairperson and had the privilege of selecting a chief and deputies. I’m a huge admirer and supporter of the Windsor Police Service.”

Gignac told a small crowd of uniformed and civilian Windsor police employees that the city will need help from the province to address social issues that police “should never have been required to deal with,” like homelessness and mental health and addictions.

“The City of Windsor, the residents who live in the city, rely so much on our police service to make sure the community is a safe place to live. It is of utmost importance, and I recognize that the challenges that front-line police officers are facing these days are incredibly challenging,” she said.

“I think at some point we need to turn our voices to the province and say something has to give here.”

Although Gignac previously served on the board for eight years, she spent the past term off the board after losing her reappointment bid to former Ward 3 Coun. Rino Bortolin in 2019. At the time, Bortolin defeated her in a closed-door 6-4 vote by council.

The deadline for residents to apply for the Windsor Police Services Board’s public positions has been extended to the end of this year. Those interested should visit windsorabc.ca to find out the duties and responsibilities of board members as well as the kind of applicants — particularly individual experience and knowledge base —  the board is looking for.

tcampbell@postmedia.com

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