Tecumseh is mulling over contract renewal options with the Ontario Provincial Police.
The town is set to save $2-million over five years under the new billing model compared to the previous setup. Also of interest to Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara is a yearly independent auditing process, another change as part of the new model.
"It will indicate where our strengths are and where our weaknesses are," says McNamara. "Then with council, our police detachment commander as well as our police services board, be able to dedicate the resources to tackle those weak areas."
Despite some recent discussion of a regional police service for Windsor-Essex, McNamara isn't sold on the idea for his town, pointing to Niagara -on-the-Lake as an example of a community part of a regional setup.
"They're in the $10-million to $11-million [cost for policing] for a community of 15,000. We're 25,000 and eventually we'll be paying $4.2-million," says McNamara. "Are they getting any better policing for $11-million? I would beg to say 'no.'"
The contract decision is expected at Tecumseh's regular council meeting on April 28. The OPP is offering a one-time six-month contract option as well as renewals ranging from three to six years.