OPP oversight board split even across municipalities
A new and amalgamated local Ontario Provincial Police detachment board launched Monday with representation from the towns of Essex and Tecumseh and the Municipality of Lakeshore.
The Essex Detachment Board — North replaces the former police services board under changes implemented April 1 when the Community Safety and Policing Act took over from the former Police Services Act.
The new board is comprised of nine representatives divided equally between Lakeshore, Essex and Tecumseh.
The province will also appoint two representatives, but their names had not yet been released last week.
Each municipality has already appointed a council representative and a community representative and they are required to agree on an additional at-large representative.
“Having council and community representatives will ensure our residents will continue to have a voice on policing in Lakeshore's communities,” said Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey.
Bailey and Lakeshore community representative Julie Johnston have been appointed, along with Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy, Essex community representative Dave Kigar, Tecumseh Mayor Gary Mcnamara and Tecumseh community representative Paul Sweet.
The at-large representative will be rotated between the municipalities, starting with Tecumseh.
Tecumseh council appointed former police services board chairman Chris Hales, who will serve out the balance of 2024 once his appointment is confirmed by Essex and Lakeshore.
In 2025, Lakeshore will make the appointment and Essex gets its turn for 2026. Each appointment is subject to agreement by all three municipalities.
“Through collaboration with Lakeshore and Essex, the amalgamated board will aim to optimize our resources and enhance policing effectiveness,” Mcnamara said.
The new detachment board is expected to hold its first meeting this month in Tecumseh. The meeting will be livestreamed for public access.
An agenda will be published a week before the meetings and posted to each municipality's website.
“The Town of Essex will continue to address the policing needs of our community through the newly developed police services detachment board,” Bondy said. “We look forward to working with our neighbouring municipalities to ensure that our communities are a safe place for all.”