Part 2: Policing Costs, Road Safety, Impaired Driving, and Cell Service — 08/20/2026

The August 20 Prince Edward County OPP Detachment Board meeting was not only about statistics. Board members spent considerable time connecting those numbers to what residents are experiencing across the County, from policing costs and unreliable cell service to impaired driving and road safety. Several decisions were unanimous, while much of the discussion focused on where the board believes more attention is needed as the current term approaches its end.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

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Policing costs and the next County budget

On finances, Arryn McNichol, Director of Finance, told the board that the 2026 operating budget remained on track and that PEC's policing cost per capita was roughly in the middle of the 14 municipalities examined. The comparison also showed PEC accounting for 1.21% of OPP-policed properties province-wide but 0.91% of weighted calls for service. When the operating budget statement was put forward for receipt, Councillor Bill Roberts moved the motion, and Councillor Chris Braney seconded it, with the board voting in favour. The policing cost comparison was also received unanimously, following a motion and seconding from board members Councillor Roberts and Sarah Letersky.

The bigger question for residents is what happens in 2027.  Councillor Braney asked what the County might be facing after the difficult policing-cost increase experienced the previous year. McNichol said he had heard increases could reach a maximum of 11%, although PEC's actual amount was still unknown. Casey Hill, Board Chair, added that OPP officials had indicated municipalities should receive their numbers earlier this year, likely in late September or early October, and had been told not to expect the same level of "sticker shock."

Road safety raises concerns across the County

Staff Sergeant Jeffrey MacKinnon, Prince Edward County OPP Detachment Commander, reported that collisions, violent crime and property crime were all down, but distracted driving enforcement was moving in the opposite direction. Distracted driving charges increased 114%, with MacKinnon pointing particularly to Picton, where traffic volumes and drivers using phones were contributing to the problem. He said platoons were being directed to conduct targeted distracted-driving initiatives each month.

That discussion led Councillor Braney to raise a different safety concern affecting several parts of PEC: unreliable cell service. He recalled poor connectivity during a previous police ride-along and described recently being unable to properly receive a call in Wellington, questioning what could happen if someone needed emergency assistance. Robert agreed that the issue was serious and said communications problems can affect police, fire and other services. MacKinnon supported the concern, explaining that OPP vehicle computers depend on cellular service, meaning officers in poor-coverage areas may lose access to real-time information and have to rely on radio. Councillor Braney suggested that he and another councillor could begin raising the issue and looking for ways to push it forward.

Impaired driving puts the focus on PEC residents

Impaired driving produced one of the clearest local messages of the meeting. MacKinnon's data showed that 58% of impaired drivers in the 2023 to 2025 analysis were PEC residents, and that figure increased to 63% in the 2026 reporting period presented to the board. The Bay Bridge and Picton appeared as notable areas in the 2026 data, while MacKinnon said he expected Sandbanks Provincial Park to show more activity as additional summer data was collected.

MacKinnon said officers were increasingly using Mandatory Alcohol Screening, including RIDE initiatives at Sandbanks and elsewhere in the County. Hill said the high percentage of local impaired drivers also raised questions about education and deterrence beyond arrests. Councillor Braney highlighted concern about impaired drivers under 21, while Sarah Letersky suggested looking at whether MADD presentations continue in local high schools and whether education could be connected with broader community well-being work. When the impaired-driving and mandatory-screening report came forward, Councillor Roberts moved that it be received, Sarah Letersky seconded, and the board voted in favour.

Training gets board support

The board also backed a relatively small but practical investment in local policing. MacKinnon requested $400 for a September 24 training day focused on court procedures, testimony and note-taking, with particular value for younger officers who may have less courtroom experience. Councillor Roberts asked if he could attend as an observer, while Councillor Braney spoke positively about the collaboration between the board and detachment leadership. Councillor Roberts then moved to provide the $400 from the board's Projects and Programs budget, Sarah Letersky seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

What this means for the locals

For people in Picton, the meeting signals continued attention to distracted driving and impaired driving, particularly around areas already showing up in police data. Around Sandbanks, residents and visitors can expect continued RIDE and mandatory alcohol screening activity as police respond to summer traffic and alcohol use in the park. For Wellington and other parts of rural PEC, the cell-service discussion matters because poor coverage is being treated as more than an inconvenience. Board members and the detachment commander connected it directly to emergency communications and police access to information.

County-wide, residents should also watch the upcoming 2027 policing budget. The board has not yet received PEC's final OPP cost figure, and another meeting is expected before the October municipal election to deal with budget estimates. At the same time, the impaired-driving numbers show that enforcement is not simply targeting tourists. The majority of drivers identified in the data were local residents, making road safety, public education and responsible driving issues that directly involve the PEC community itself.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:07:34. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.