The Municipality of Leamington has a new three-year contract with the Ontario Provincial Police.
The original contract expired over a year ago when the municipality decided to look at other options for policing in the municipality.
A request for proposals was issued and both the Chatham-Kent Police Service and the Windsor Police Service submitted a proposal to take over policing in the municipality. Ultimately, the municipality decided both options were too expensive and went back contract negotiations with the OPP.
Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald said the new contract is very similar to the former agreement, but now she feels she has the ear of the OPP.
“There’s been a change in the conversation, and that is really what we wanted to have happen,” said MacDonald. “Prior to 2019, there was a lack of willingness to talk about the needs of a community like Leamington. We stated that we were certainly not like other rural communities, that we were more like a city than a rural town, but there was an unwillingness to listen.”
The 2022 budget includes $5,994,303 for policing services, which represents an increase of $223,000 or 3.9% over 2021. MacDonald said this increase accounts for inflation and wage increases. All existing community service programs will be maintained, and a police service board will be reinstated.
“I have firm confidence now that we will have a voice at the table. We are known for speaking our minds. We have the ear of the upper levels that we didn’t have before, and I believe with new people in place there is a willingness to adapt to the needs of the community,” said MacDonald.