By Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland County Council voted Wednesday not to carry on studying changes to its policing model by going a step beyond the Police Services Review before them to look into a costing study of different options.

The study prepared by Strategy Corp was not meant to provide a final answer, Engagement Principal Sabine Matheson said. The report looks at the future needs of policing, including service requirement and costs, but any changes would need the approval of local councils as well.

“You shouldn't mess with it unless it's worthwhile,” she stressed.

The options considered were:

Option 1 – Go to OPP policing in all municipalities

Option 2 – Leave the OPP where it is, and police Cobourg and Port Hope's Ward 1 with a force that amalgamates their current municipal forces

Option 3 – The status quo

The two municipal services already work closely with each other to reduce crime and manage resources efficiently, and the OPP provides specialized services. There is no evidence to suggest this arrangement does not meet residents' needs, and the status quo is an option.

They examined four factors – service delivery (the “local feel” was considered an important factor), governance (local police service boards vs. the OPP chain of command), costs (economics of scale – for example, why have three police headquarters within an 11-km. space) and transition considerations (such as severances and other adjustments).

Senior Advisor Stephen Beckett applauded the booming business centre the Cobourg Police have established doing criminal background checks for large clients and producing revenue that offsets costs. But in the end, Beckett pointed out, how that info is used is dictated by RCMP policy that could change tomorrow. And with the advent of AI, he added, how vulnerable is such a business to being replaced by automation.

Matheson detailed benefits and drawbacks of each option, and projected costs – this analysis put the OPP in the most favourable position (at least in part because it brought the ability to ascribe certain risks and costs to the provincial budget), followed by Cobourg-Port Hope amalgamation and then the status quo.

One obstacle to opting for all-OPP service is the provision that each municipality would negotiate its own contract with the OPP. The consultants admitted this was, for the most part, a hard-and-fast practice that Northumberland would not be likely to win concessions on.

Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland said this sets the stage for the OPP to play off one community against another, charging higher rates for some than for others.

Warden Brian Ostrander, Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate and Hamilton Township Mayor Scott Jibb also said they could not support an arrangement that does not leave the negotiations at the upper tier.

Cramahe Mayor Mandy Martin reminded Cleveland that he had seconded the motion that had original authorized this study.

“I made the motion for the study last year at a time when I still believed in the willingness of the seven of us to work together, at a time when I still had the ideals that the six other councillors were still interested in working for the people of Cobourg,” Cleveland protested.

Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf gave an emotional presentation on behalf of his force, defending their refusal to co-operate with the consultants.

“In the spring, Cobourg council opted not to change the policing arrangement,” VandeGraaf said. In light of that, he chose not to devote time and resources to the effort. Even so, he denounced its inaccuracies – such as including business centre salaries in the costing when business centre revenues entirely offset them.

“This report is just another report comparing apples and oranges, only this time conclusions have been reached through misinformation and incorrect assumptions,” the chief said.

“Any decision to change local policing arrangements would be a local decision, not a county decision.”

Though he grew most emotional discussing the impact of the study on his members, he also challenged the report's stating that going with the OPP meant the province would likely cover the cost of new headquarters.
“I can guarantee you the Ontario government is not building a building for free,” he insisted.

“The county has no authority at this time to decide the policing arrangements for lower-tier municipalities. There will be no change for lower-tier municipalities, one of which – Cobourg – have indicated way early on they are not open to changing policing arrangements during this term of council.”

Cleveland asked VandeGraaf if he knew of any examples of a police services that has gone with the OPP and then changed back.

“It's cost-prohibitive. Once you make that decision, you can't go back,” the chief said.

He also expressed confidence that their business centre would continue as it's one of a handful of powerhouse concerns of its kind across the county that cut the waiting time significantly for volunteers, prospective employees and other members of the community needing criminal background checks.

“In fact, the RCMP call us when they want to change policy,” he added.

Matheson reminded the chief that they began their presentation by saying that, though it is appropriate to consider options, the status quo is a perfectly valid conclusion,

Cleveland took a moment to reassure the contingent that there was no disrespect meant to the work they had done.

“I don't think anyone is questioning your integrity, and I don't think anyone here is speaking to the ethics of your professionalism,” he said.

“The feeling you are experiencing is regarding the concern, a feeling among those who live and work and serve in Cobourg that the interests of Cobourgians are not being represented at this level. I think that is the concern you are picking up on – the concern that this level of government does not look out for the best interests of Cobourg.”

Ostrander offered expressions of support to Cobourg and Port Hope police services as well.

“When I drive around your communities, Mayor Hankivsky and Mayor Cleveland, I have absolute faith you will protect me, or pull me over if I am doing something bad. I know officers in both your services, and I know they are professional and, frankly, likeable folks. Carry on doing your good jobs.”

Ostrander, who made the motion to undertake this study with a second from Cleveland, said that it grew out of a lunchtime discussion about uploading more services to the county, especially emergency services. With only three police services (as opposed to seven fire services), this kind of study seemed a good place to start.

Now, he said, without a willingness to look at what such an upload might mean, there is no reason to look at it further. Still, Ostrander continued, they should plan on a future conversation about the increased costs Cobourg sustains – for regular services like court costs and contingencies like the Brookside encampment.