A lack of uniformed officers is putting a strain on the Sarnia Police Service complement, according to its chief.
The city has 111 uniformed officers, representing little change from the 119 officers employed when the Sarnia and Clearwater police services amalgamated in 1991.
Chief Norm Hansen said the ratio of sworn members to the general civilian population remains the lowest in comparable Ontario municipalities.
"We notice it absolutely at times because we have to supply all of these services," he said. "We're a big enough city that we have to supply a detective office, we have to supply a drug unit, we have to supply traffic enforcement, and it definitely taxes our resources as far as our employees. It's difficult."
Hansen said last year, Sarnia's police service responded to around 28,000 calls.
He said the police service is helping reduce officer "burn-out" with employee assistance programs and peer support groups.
Salary and wage costs are roughly 89 per cent, or $21.2 million, of the police service's proposed 2019 budget.
The budget will be considered by city council during its deliberations December 11.