Part 2: Mental Health Funding, Police Accountability, and Community Safety Discussed by PEC Police Board - 02/22/2024

Mental Health Collaboration and Funding

Rick Gdowski was one of the strongest advocates for expanding support for local mental health collaboration efforts.

He argued that a short-term facilitation process would not be enough to repair relationships, improve coordination, or create lasting results among agencies involved in mental health and crisis response. Instead, he recommended funding a full year of facilitation, proposing $10,000 to give organizations enough time to rebuild trust, establish clear goals, and strengthen working relationships.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap.

Julianne Steps supported the recommendation, noting that participation among agencies had been inconsistent and that a longer process would provide an opportunity to clarify expectations, responsibilities, and outcomes. The board unanimously approved the expanded funding request.

For residents, this decision could improve coordination between police, healthcare providers, social service agencies, and community organizations, helping people receive support more quickly and reducing the number of repeat crisis situations.

Police Performance and Accountability

Jeremy Doolin presented the annual policing performance report and provided an overview of complaints, staffing, and operational outcomes. He confirmed that most public complaints filed during the reporting period were either dismissed or successfully resolved through established processes. He also reported that staffing levels had stabilized and that police clearance rates were improving across several categories of crime.

Board members asked questions about conviction rates and court outcomes, but Doolin explained that those results are tracked by the court system rather than local police services.

For residents, the report provided reassurance that complaint processes are functioning properly and that local policing resources are becoming more stable after previous staffing challenges. The discussion also highlighted the distinction between police performance and broader justice system delays that remain outside local police control.

Crime Trends and Community Safety

The board reviewed several crime trends affecting Prince Edward County.

Members noted increases in reported fraud, harassment, and drug-related offences, while also highlighting positive trends such as declining break-and-enter incidents and the absence of traffic fatalities during the reporting period.

Aaron Miller provided additional context regarding sexual assault investigations.

He reported that 36 percent of sexual assault reports involved historical incidents, while 12 percent originated from long-term care settings.

These statistics helped board members better understand the nature of reported crimes and where future prevention and support efforts may be needed.

For residents, the discussion reinforced that increased reporting does not always indicate increased crime. In some cases, it reflects greater awareness, improved confidence in reporting, and stronger victim support systems.

Training Requirements and Legislative Changes

Board members also discussed upcoming training requirements tied to Ontario’s new policing legislation.

Several members expressed frustration over the lack of detailed guidance and uncertainty around implementation timelines. Although no formal opposition was raised, there was widespread acknowledgment that boards across Ontario are still waiting for clarification regarding mandatory online training and governance expectations.

For residents, this means there may be a short adjustment period as local boards adapt to new provincial requirements and oversight structures. The discussion reflected concerns about preparedness rather than disagreement with the reforms themselves.

Lunch and Learn Program

The board approved funding for a series of Lunch and Learn sessions focused on mental health, addictions, and substance use awareness.

Rick Gdowski and Aaron Miller both encouraged board members to attend, emphasizing that participation would demonstrate leadership support and strengthen understanding of issues officers encounter regularly.

The sessions are intended to improve awareness, knowledge, and collaboration between board members and frontline policing personnel. For residents, better-informed police officers and board members can contribute to more effective responses during mental health and substance use-related incidents.

Meeting Frequency and Oversight

Rick Godowski also pushed for more frequent board meetings, arguing that long gaps between meetings reduce oversight, weaken accountability, and make it harder to respond quickly to emerging issues.

He emphasized that governance bodies function best when communication and reporting occur regularly rather than only a few times each year. The Chair agreed with the concern and supported adding an April meeting to the board calendar. The board ultimately agreed to increase meeting frequency.

For residents, this means stronger oversight, more timely discussion of community safety issues, and greater transparency around policing priorities and decision-making.

Overall Impact for Residents

This meeting focused heavily on mental health collaboration, police accountability, community safety, and governance effectiveness.

The approval of expanded mental health facilitation funding represents a significant investment in improving cooperation between police, healthcare providers, and social service agencies.

Residents also received positive updates regarding complaint resolution, staffing stability, declining break-and-enter rates, and the absence of traffic fatalities. At the same time, discussions about crime trends, legislative changes, and governance training highlighted areas that will continue to evolve over the coming months.

Overall, the board demonstrated a strong commitment to improving coordination, strengthening oversight, supporting officer education, and maintaining public confidence in local policing during a period of ongoing change.

---

Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:19:20. 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.