Provincial commission holds public hearing for Windsor Police takeover of Amherstburg enforcement

The final step before Windsor Police Service (WPS)takes over law enforcement in Amherstburg started Tuesday, at a public hearing held by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC).

The OCPC is the provincial body with the authority to give a final stamp of approval. They may also make recommendations for Windsor Police before they say yes.

"If there's any recommendations that's going to flow out of this investigation, I'm all willing," said Windsor Police Chief Al Frederick. "I'm completely willing, and I'll look forward to making those changes, that's only going to make us better."

Frederick gave reassurances that there won't be any changes to the police force currently working in the town, with the same officers and the same shift rotations. However, there will bechanges to the chief and deputy chief.

Concerns overautonomy

A former member of the Amherstburg Police Services Board is unhappy about that possible change and is "dead set against it."

"We lose our autonomy, we lose control, we don't have our deputy chief. We need them," said Frank Cleminson. "They deserve to be here, they do a great job, and I'm hoping we can keep them here."

Despite the number of dissenting voices they've heard since the entire ordeal began, Frederick and Amherstburg mayor Aldo DiCarlo believe those voices are a minority.

"Progress and change is difficult for people to understand at times, and I just think the majority of people are going to accept that change at this point," Frederick said.

Savings and access to bomb squad

The town first opened the bid to outsource policing in order to save money. Windsor Police's offer said the town could save somewhere around $800,000 over the contract's five-year-term.

DiCarlo said the OCPC has "very different issues to consider" in this hearing because Amherstburg is the first to outsource policing in this manner, through a bidding process.

Aside from savings, Windsor Police is also promising quick access to services that previously would have had to come from as far as London such as a bomb squad, a tactical team or a canine unit.

"It's better for public safety and it's a cheaper solution for communities," Frederick said.

'Too many unknowns'

Ron Sutherland, former deputy mayor of Amherstburg, is concerned about the possible change but doesn't want to give too many specific comments.

"There are just too many unknowns at this point," he said. "I still have my reservations."

However, he did say he doesn't consider the current ongoing investigations into WPS for its workplace environment to be a concerning factor.

Windsor's city council and the Windsor Police Services Board first entered the bid to police Amherstburg last October. The township council narrowly voted in favour of the change in February.

In June, it was revealed that the OCPCisinvestigating WPSafter multiple complaints from members of the service raised concerns about the workplace environment that include possible interference in legal proceedings.

The public hearing for the service takeoverfinishes at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Frederick estimates the OCPC decision may take a month to come through. If the commission approves the proposal, WPS will begin acting as the town's law enforcement starting January 2019.