A familiar face is the new vice-chairman of the Windsor Police Services Board.
Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo, whose municipality took on the Windsor Police Service as the provider of patrols and investigations in the town, was chosen as vice-chair during the board's meeting Thursday afternoon at Windsor police headquarters. DiCarlo's name, put into nomination by board member Michael Ray, was the only one considered.
DiCarlo told reporters after the meeting that he was "humbled" to be named as vice-chair, but he considers it just part of the process to have Amherstburg represented on the Windsor police board.
"We knew what Amherstburg's role would be in the transition," said DiCarlo. "I can't help but bring up the underlying message there, which is everyone is committed to making this work."
DiCarlo had worked with the former Amherstburg police board, so he is already familiar with the kind of work these boards do, but said he understands there are some differences between the two.
"Legislation-wise, we all follow the same thing," said DiCarlo. "Statistics-wise, well, that's been quite an eye-opener. Things are definitely different in Windsor... so the safety of Windsor is just as important to me as the safety in Amherstburg."
The mayor said that the transition has for the most part gone smoothly, with the only sticking point being severance packages for those Amherstburg officers who did not join WPS. DiCarlo said the process has been completed. He also said feedback from Amherstburg residents has been positive.