OPP say Dryden Police Service building unusable: too close to rail line - Action News
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Thunder Bay

OPP say Dryden Police Service building unusable: too close to rail line

A plan to determine the cost of using the OPP to police the City of Dryden in northwestern Ontario hit a roadblock.

Goal is to have costing study complete by June 2018

OPP say they are unable to use the current Dryden Police Service headquarters, because of its proximity to refuelling stations and the CP Rail mainline. The OPP are currently preparing a cost estimate for the City of Dryden to take over its police force. (www.dryden.ca)

A plan to determine the cost of using the OPP to police the City of Dryden in northwestern Ontario has hit a roadblock.

A policing committee was told by the OPP the current Dryden Police Service detachment, on King St. could not be used by the OPP, due to its proximity to fueling stations, and the CP Rail mainline, which carries hazardous materials.

"They've discovered an obstacle and they have to see if it's a deal-breaker, or there's other alternatives that could be worked on,"said Greg Wilson, the Mayor of Dryden.

"As long as we have all of the information in front of us, or a future council, then that's really what matters."

Dryden council voted in June to examine if itshould disband its own municipal police force, and go with OPP service. Dryden is the only community in northwestern Ontario, besides Thunder Bay, that has its own force. Kenora disbanded its force in 2009.

"There's always hiccups when looking at these types of proposals. It doesn't mean there aren'tother options, and the OPP is working on some different scenarios for us to look at," said Wilson.

According to municipal officials, OPP have not ruled out the Highway 17 detachment east of Drydenas a possible location, adding that policeare looking into other viable alternatives. Administration said they hopeto hear back in a few months about some options.

Wilson said the goal is to have the costing study complete by June, 2018.

Clarifications

  • A previous version of this story stated the OPP detachment east of Dryden had been ruled out as a possibility. City administration later clarified that was not the case.
    Nov 28, 2017 10:58 AM ET