The Wellington OPP is working on priorities for 2011 to 2013, and the Police Services Board is seeking comments from county council and the local municipalities.
Inspector Scott Smith said that the OPP priorities have traditionally been:
– safer highways, waterways, and trails;
– enhance public safety and confidence through crime prevention and investigative excellence;
– deliver professional frontline services, once contract at a time;
– deliver responsive programs and services that address the needs of the communities;
– measure performance and hold themselves accountable through ongoing evaluation; and
– ensure effective fiscal management.
Smith said in his report to the Police Services Board the priorities were public safety; build trusting relationships with partners, the public, and stakeholders, a force that is a benchmark of excellence, and invest public resources wisely in support of frontline services delivery.
Councillor Lou Maieron said one concern he hears is that smaller, mischief crimes are often going unsolved, and he asked for some improvement.
The report shows that property crimes in general, have decreased since 2001. For example, break-and-enters that year numbered 436, but they decreased steadily down to 376 in 2009.
Thefts, too, dropped In 2001 there were 1,009 thefts reported by citizens, but that dropped to 623 by 2009.
One area of crime that did increase was domestic incidents, which went from 207 reports in 2001 to 520 to the end of last year.
Maieron noted from the report that Wellington County has the third fewest officers per 100,000 population, and is the third lowest in spending at $129 per person. He said the county, instead of asking for funds for two more police officers per year, should perhaps ask for more. He said he would like to improve police presence without overtaxing residents.
Police Services Board chairman Lynda White explained that in 2009 the county did ask for two more officers, but she said such a request is a big process to go through. She explained there is “not a great influx of [new] officers” coming available in a year.
Smith told council that the move last year to hire civilians to enter date instead of having officers do that office work, had allowed “an increased presence on the road.” He added that move increased officers’ street presence by over 50 per cent and is “putting visibility back on the road.”
Smith said the police will be looking for a new contract in 2014, and the county should plan ahead.
Councillor Rod Finnie told Smith that the officer at the high school in Erin is very appreciated.
“We’re very happy; he’s doing a good job,” Finnie said.
Councillor John Green said he has been involved in efforts to obtain more officers for Wellington County more than once, and the county was refused each time. He added there are the same problems in Mapleton that there appear to be in Erin, not so much graffiti, but “local crime.”
Councillor Mark MacKenzie asked if the Police Services Board could provide data showing hours of policing in each municipality.
Maieron said the numbers for petty crime are there to see, and if the county asks for more police, it might get them.
He added he would “echo” Finnie’s compliments on the high school officer.
Maieron then noted the county now has a budget for the Mounted Unit, but wondered if the county should charge costs when the unit operates outside of Wellington if officers have to board horses and stay somewhere outside the county over night, that cost should be covered by the group that invited the unit.
“It’s our taxpayers that are paying for it,” he concluded.
Council then accepted the entire board report.
