At the March 5, 2025 meeting of Essex County Council, Councillor Michael Prue brought forward two Notices of Motion. Councillor Prue prefaced the two Notices as Option 1 and Option 2:
Regional Police Services - Option 1:
Whereas the Town of Amherstburg Policing Contract with the City of Windsor ends on December 31, 2028 and the City of Windsor has decided not to renew this contract with the Town of Amherstburg; and,
Whereas most of the municipalities in Essex County are currently receiving policing services from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP); and,
Whereas the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Amherstburg has requested that due consideration be given to options for policing of the Town of Amherstburg that include a regional approach; and,
Whereas the County of Essex is uniquely positioned to administer and deliver programs as an upper tier municipality.
Now therefore it is requested:
That the Administration of the County of Essex work with local municipalities to explore options for traditional regional policing models for the County of Essex and to be in place for January 1st, 2029 and for Administration to report back as soon as possible.
Regional Police Services - Option 2
Whereas the Town of Amherstburg Policing Contract with the City of Windsor ends on December 31, 2028 and the City of Windsor has decided not to renew this contract with the Town of Amherstburg; and,
Whereas the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Amherstburg has requested that due consideration be given to options for policing of the Town of Amherstburg that include a regional approach; and,
Whereas the County of Essex is uniquely positioned to administer and deliver programs as an upper tier municipality; and,
Whereas there is a recognized interest in preserving local span of control and service levels in policing activities, while enjoying the economies of scale and cost effectiveness of centralized control over policing activities; and
Whereas the decision on how a community is policed requires careful consideration and planning, and communities in Essex County may approach such an endeavour on different time scales.
Now therefore it is requested:
That the Administration of the County of Essex work with local municipalities to explore possible options for a collaborative approach to policing in the long term where the Police Board, Command and Corporate structures are held at the County level and local communities are provided with options for flexible service delivery models to meet local needs and pricing. This model should be built upon the premise that any municipality can opt out of the program if they have other means of providing policing to their community and the costs borne for the command and corporate structures are levied equally amongst all signatories, with pricing for specific service delivery within each community being wholly the responsibility of the host community.