Sarnia's police chief wants his complement of uniform officers increased to help alleviate stress.
Norm Hansen asked the police services board Thursday morning to authorize an increase of four recruits in January to attend the Ontario Police College.
Sarnia Police Chief Norm Hansen
Chief Hansen says he's concerned about the mental health of overworked officers.
"Sometime's we're having to divert people from other divisions and senior officers are going out and working on the road rather than in the office, especially in the summertime, everybody wants their time off in the summer," said Hansen. "We've experienced a few injuries here and there and that affects us. It's just the nature of the business."
Chief Hansen said they're trying to get ahead of the issue with employee assistance programs and a peer support team.
"Some services are just inundated with people off long term. PTSD [post traumatic stress disorder], up to 25 per cent of their service," he said. "So, I want to get in front of that because if that ever happened here, obviously I would have to close a detective office, close the youth bureau, close the drug unit and put everybody in uniform and that's not sufficient."
The Sarnia Police Services Board chair, Mayor Mike Bradley, said he thinks it's time to strengthen the ranks.
"We've seen the tragedies within the OPP where there's been 13 to 14 officers that have taken their lives," said Bradley. "In this service, we've had two people take their lives in the last number of years. So, there's a human stress factor here and also the changing nature of policing and dealing with people with mental health issues."
Bradley said the opioid addiction crisis in the city has escalated the situation.
"It has created huge issues. Not just when dealing with the people involved in drugs or selling of the drugs, but all the auxiliary things, such as the vandalisms, thefts and the break and enters," he said.
The board has asked for a business plan before authorizing the chief's request, which will be considered during the police budget process this fall.
The city has 111 uniformed officers, representing little change from the 119 officers employed when the Sarnia and Clearwater police services amalgamated in 1991.