Part 2: Policing Costs, Youth Support, and Community Safety Updates — 09/07/2023

This part of the meeting focused more on the details behind policing such as where the money goes, what programs are being supported, and how decisions are actually made. It also gave a clearer picture of what’s happening on the ground, from youth programs to local safety concerns.

OPP billing and policing costs

Conversation around policing costs was guided by Janice Maynard, who pointed out that the current per-property cost is actually lower than it was in 2015, even with inflation and increasing operational demands. Janet Feaver, Municipal Policing Specialist with the OPP, walked the board through how billing works in practice, including how calls for service are categorized and split between municipal and provincial responsibilities. During this discussion, Robert Rutter brought up the added pressure during peak seasons from places like Sandbanks and North Beach. Staff clarified that policing for those areas is provincially funded, so those costs are not passed on to the County, helping explain how tourism impacts are handled financially.

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Youth Reach Community Support funding

The focus then shifted to Youth Reach Community Support, with Kyle Binnie explaining how the program works with youth who may be at risk of entering the justice system. He pointed out the challenge of relying on short-term funding and why more stable support is needed. Janice Maynard followed up by asking how funding could be improved, suggesting that County-level grants might be a more reliable option. After discussion, Richard Gwozdowski or Rick introduced a motion to allocate $5,000 from the 2023 programs budget. It was seconded by Sarah Letersky and approved, showing clear support for the program and its early intervention work.

Family Wellness Night funding

Funding was also approved for the PEC OPP Family Wellness Night. Rick and Sarah both supported the idea, and after confirming expected costs with staff, the board agreed to contribute up to $3,000. The event, set for October 19, 2023, is focused on mental health and wellness resources for officers and their families, showing a growing focus on well-being within policing.

When reviewing the 2024 operating budget, Anne Kantharajah explained that the small increase mainly comes from membership-related costs. The board agreed to pass the draft budget along to Council for consideration, keeping their role in the process while leaving final approval to Council.

An update from the acting detachment commander noted that there were no public complaints or secondary employment requests during the reporting period. He also pointed to ongoing trends, including lower property crime and more impaired driving enforcement. Rick raised questions about what happens after charges are laid, especially when it comes to prevention. In response, the detachment highlighted the use of Impact program referrals, which help connect

individuals to addiction and mental health support.

The meeting wrapped up with Robert bringing forward a safety concern about a signalized intersection in Picton. Staff explained the review process and noted that these kinds of concerns can be referred to the Traffic Advisory Committee, outlining how local issues move toward possible action.

What this means for residents

The discussion helps explain why policing costs have stayed fairly steady, even during busy tourist seasons. Since provincial parks are handled under provincial funding, local taxpayers are not covering those added demands, which helps keep costs more predictable.

Support for Youth Reach Community Support shows a continued focus on early intervention, helping youth and families get support before situations get worse. While the funding approved is short-term, the conversation hints at possible longer-term solutions down the line.

Updates on enforcement trends show a bit of a mixed picture, with fewer property-related incidents but ongoing concerns around impaired driving and violent offences. At the same time, the use of referral programs and the ability to raise local safety concerns... like the Picton intersection... show that both prevention and response are still active priorities in the community.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:52:31. 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.