Bye bye OCPS: Norwich says hello to OPP

Norwich says hello to OPP

By Carla Garrett STAFF WRITER

Wednesday October 10, 2007

OTTERVILLE - The Oxford Community Police Service is out and the Ontario Provincial Police are in, Norwich Township council decided Tuesday.

Council voted unanimously to enter into a contract with the OPP, leaving the 10-year-old OCPS agreement with the City of Woodstock, East Zorra-Tavistock and Blandford-Blenheim townships.

But the decision didn’t come easy for some councillors.

"It’s unfortunate," Coun. Larry Martin said. "It didn’t have to come to this, but it has."

Martin, who also sits on the OCPS board, added the decision was not about the level of service.

"If it was about policing, this would be an easy decision…but the bottom line is that we are not paying our share," he said.

Township Mayor Donald Doan was quick to point out that they tried meeting with the partners to work out a new agreement but failed each time.

"We had done more than our fair share," he said, adding it was evident by late last year that the four partners could not agree.

Norwich initiated meetings with the partners in 2005 and 2006. As a result of one meeting, the partners had OCPS Chief Ron Fraser prepare the Clean Slate report. This report, said Doan, showed that 77 per cent of the OCPS workload was in Woodstock, which paid 58 per cent of the total policing costs.

"It is unfortunate. We will miss Norwich Township and wish them well in the future," Fraser said.

He was not surprised by Tuesday’s decision.

"It was obvious that I cannot change the current OCPS funding formula, and the four municipalities had not come to any decision to change that formula."

Doan said council has a responsibility to taxpayers to switch to the OPP, which costs about $500,000 less than OCPS.

The mayor was not supportive of a new OCPS agreement, saying it would only be a "Band-Aid."

"If we can’t trust our partner now, how can we trust them later?" he asked. "What’s the next battle with them going to be?"

Coun. Pat Lee added that council is not mad at anyone, just frustrated with trying to deal with the partners.

Nine residents submitted written responses to council following last week’s public meeting about the OPP proposal. Residents were split about 50-50 between the two forces.

"We want good service and that’s what we get with OCPS. Don’t change," a Burgessville resident wrote.

But just as many residents welcomed the OPP.

"We now have a chance to get back a police force that has the resources to better serve the citizens of Norwich Township …we can no longer afford to pay half a million dollars a year extra in policing costs," wrote Doug Pearce.

Council still has to choose one of the two options proposed by the OPP: $1,439,054 with 10 constables or $1,200,932 with eight constables.

The OPP will not start patrolling the township until January 2009, unless the four partners agree to change the exit provision in the OCPS agreement. The Ontario Civilian Commission on Policing Services must also hold a disbandment or reduction hearing. The hearing will determine if the OPP contract provides adequate policing in Norwich and that the displaced officers are treated fairly.

Fraser said he couldn’t say how many officers would be affected, as "it will require some deliberation."

But in the meantime, Fraser said, "We will continue to provide the citizens of Norwich Township with excellence in police service provided with dedication."