WHEREAS the recent presented at County of Northumberland on September 18th 2024 titled - Police Services Review, clearly points to the jurisdiction of the lower-tier in policing and outlines several efficiencies, improvements in service and cost savings that could be realized by exploring local police service expansions and mergers; and
WHEREAS this council without reservation fully supports and endorses the work, integrity, professionalism of the Cobourg Police Service (CPS), The CPS Board and the Leadership of the CPS stating unequivocally that there is no interest from this council in looking to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to provide Policing services within the town of Cobourg; and
WHEREAS it is known that a local police service provides a more community specific approach to policing and can use a ‘tiered’ approach that utilizes auxiliary and special constables to reduce costs and offset officer shortages; and
WHEREAS it is known that the OPP continues to have difficulty recruiting front line officers which resulted in a recent pay increase making them the highest paid constables in the province; and
WHEREAS an expanded and/or combined force would allow for the creation of specialized units required to effectively solve many of the current issues plaguing our community including a Drug unit, K9, Intelligence, Sex assault/intimate partner violence, victim services, and or forensics; and
WHEREAS it has been documented and accepted that all Ontario small to medium sized police services need to either look to mergers or Section 14 agreements to meet the growing community demands, provincial regulations and increasing costs of high quality, community-based policing in 2024 under the newest Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019; and
WHEREAS there are other small to medium sized police forces throughout the province who have begun looking to potential mergers to offset the costs of new facilities, expand specialized services, and reduce overlap and inefficiencies like West Gray and Owen Sound who understand the need in 2024 for small to medium service to either expand, merge or be taken over by the OPP; and
WHEREAS this council already passed on April 24, 2024 stating clearly that “Council request the Cobourg Police Service Board look at the opportunities to them for the expansion of policing within Northumberland County” and resolution 047-23 that clearly states “the town of Cobourg does not support any further study on County-wide policing within this term of council.
NOW THEREFORE THAT Cobourg Council recommends that the Cobourg Police Service Board begin to explore the possibility of a merger with the Port Hope Police Services while continuing to explore all opportunities for expansion including but not limited to provision of police services into Hamilton township; and
FURTHER THAT Cobourg Council recommend that Mayor Lucas Cleveland write to Mayor Hankivsky of Port Hope and the Council of Port Hope along with Mayor Scott Jibb of Hamilton Township and the Council of Hamilton township to inform them of this direction and ask that they consider these options and possibilities as councils.