Part 1: Policing Costs, Community Safety Programs, and Budget Decisions — 09/07/2023
- PECConnect
- Sep 7, 2023
- 3 min read
The Police Services Board met virtually on September 7, 2023 at 10:00 a.m., opening with a land acknowledgement followed by approval of the agenda. There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest, and the June 26, 2023 meeting minutes were approved without changes. With procedural matters handled efficiently, the board moved into presentations and updates focused on policing costs, community safety programs, and budget decisions.
A key portion of the meeting was a detailed presentation on OPP municipal policing billing, which explained how costs are calculated and charged to the County. The presentation outlined the integrated policing model, where officers respond to both municipal and provincial responsibilities, with only municipal-related calls billed locally. Costs are structured across base service charges per property, calls for service based on usage, and additional expenses such as overtime and court security. For 2023, the County’s policing cost was confirmed at $307 per property, which is below the provincial average, and overall costs have remained stable since 2015 despite inflation and rising operational pressures. The board also received an update on the Community Safety and Policing Act, which will transition Police Services Boards into OPP Detachment Boards.
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Youth Reach Community Support presentation
The board received a presentation on Youth Reach Community Support, a voluntary early intervention program for youth aged 8 to 17 who are at risk of becoming involved in the justice system.
The program focuses on non criminal situations, such as mental health concerns, family conflict, school issues, and substance use. Police refer youth to the program so families can receive support after a police call, with the goal of reducing repeat calls for service.
The program presented referral statistics, community partnerships, and outcomes, and explained that it is requesting stable funding to continue operating. The request was for $30,000 annually, although no multi year commitment was made at this meeting.
Budget decisions and funding approvals
Budget discussions followed, where the board reviewed its 2023 operating budget and considered how remaining funds could support community initiatives. A motion was approved to allocate $5,000 in 2023 funding to Youth Reach Community Support. In addition, the board approved up to $3,000 to support a PEC OPP Family Wellness Night scheduled for October 2023. The board also reviewed and approved the draft 2024 Police Services Board budget for submission to Council.
Detachment report and public safety update
A six-month detachment report covering January to June 2023 provided an overview of local public safety trends. The report noted increases in sexual assaults and assaults, alongside continued declines in break and enters, thefts, and mischief. There was also an increase in impaired driving enforcement, while it was confirmed that there had been no traffic fatalities in the County so far in 2023.
In other business, a safety concern was raised regarding a signalized intersection in Picton, prompting discussion about potential improvements and a referral to the Traffic Advisory Committee. The next meeting was scheduled for November 9, 2023, and the session adjourned at 11:51 a.m.
Key Takeaways
Policing costs remain stable and below the provincial average, helping keep expenses predictable.
Youth Reach received targeted funding, showing continued support for early intervention programs.
Public safety trends show declines in property crime but ongoing concerns around impaired driving and violent incidents.
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.
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