M-B learns more about contract policing, Township ponders best option to provide affordable policing services for its ratepayers
Posted Jan 19, 2012 By Sherry HaaimaEMC News - To contract or not contract policing services - that is the question.
A number of Ottawa Valley municipalities are examining police services and costs and McNab-Braeside councillors got a closer look at the issue Jan. 10 with police officials on hand to shed light on the issue.
McNab-Braeside's policing is provided under a 5.1, or non-contract service, and the presentation was designed to explain the difference for a municipality with a contract and answer questions council has had for some time.
Sgt. Paul Legault of the Ontario Provincial Police and Renfrew Staff Sgt. Colin Slight addressed council.
Legault admitted the deployment model and costing formula is "not very clear cut" and can be hard to understand.
But "it's not just pulled out of a hat, there is methodology behind it," he said.
Legault told council he'd do his best to help explain and answer questions on what can sometimes be a controversial and complex issue for municipalities.
Legault explained early on that the Police Services Act says policing is the responsibility of the municipality.
"We're here to provide the service," he said.
He touched on the history of policing in Ontario, explaining that before 1998, 202 municipalities paid for policing and 576 mainly rural areas were policed without direct cost.
A change to the police act at that time required all municipalities, including those in rural areas, to pay for police services, he said.
"It's not just the fact you're going to have a police service, you have to meet certain standards," said Legault.
Options for municipalities when it comes to policing include establishing a municipal police service, entering into an agreement with one or more neighbours to establish the service or a contracting with the OPP.
"All those scenarios would work and we have that in the OPP - all those types of relationships," said Legault.
Legault said the OPP is looking at the possibility of charging municipalities that are taking advantage of its services to maintain adequacy.
"That's down the road," said Legault, and it's not a secret, he added, noting it's something brought forward by our commissioner.
"It's starting to be quite expensive for the OPP to go into smaller communities and investigate and we're not getting anything back," Legault said.
He explained municipalities are actually paying the Ministry of Finance, not the OPP directly.
POLICE BOARD
The formula costs police at 1,467 hours of time, or "one body" as a full-time equivalent.
McNab-Braeside's allocation is 2.77 FTE officers.
"The biggest difference between contract and non-contract is ability to have police services board," Legault explained.
"They have legislative authority in reference to relationship with the detachment commander."
With a board, a municipality is able to sit down with the detachment commander, build a business plan and identify the priorities in the community, he said.
Mayor Campbell indicated two of the township's chronic issues, roadside litter and speeding, could be more easily addressed this way.
Legault and Slight explained that 5.1 (non contract) municipalities do have access to the staff sergeant and correspondence and feedback through a Police Advisory Committee (CPAC).
McNab-Braeside is represented on the local CPAC with Greater Madawaska, Horton and Whitewater Region.
A contract can also help the OPP to hire an additional officer at council's request.
"The only time we can hire, above our complement, is in a contract," said Legault.
Mayor Campbell thanked Legault and Slight for their attendance.
Council will discuss the issue further at an upcoming meeting.
Sgt. Slight assured council that policing needs will be met, whether it's under a 5.1 or non-contract situation.
"We will always guarantee we will meet the needs for service," he said. "If you have an emergency, we're going to be there."
Sherry.haaima@metroland.com
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