Webcast. Screenshot
The Dryden Police Service is bringing a human approach to the table as the City continues to consider its future policing options.
Board Chair Garry Bates made a virtual presentation to Council Monday and stressed a recent consultants report didn’t consider one of the most important things in policing.
“The vulnerable young person who has established a relationship with some of our officers. The Seniors who have known officers for many years and sometimes looks to them for assistance. The growing number of Indigenous citizens in our community who have come to accept and trust our local police service and who may not be so comfortable with OPP, particularly in light of current relations to police everywhere.”
Bates also questioned the timing of the new Police Costing Study.
He pointed to the cloud of uncertainty officers have been living under for more than three years.
Bates says DPS staff have always done their best, stressing they have had to live and work in difficult times since the first policing study, not knowing if they would have a job or could pay their bills.
Council voted against the OPP proposal but reopened the debate a few months later.
Bates says, “Why now? What has changed in these few months to make Council go against a decision which they so firmly made only a short time ago.”
He stresses these aspects deserve at least as much attention as dollars do, stressing the Dryden Police Service keeps our community safe and is a significant employer with some 25 staff.
Bates notes there’s no guarantee of those jobs in a policing transition.
Chief Doug Palson also addressed Council to stress their philosophy of people first.
“Partnerships, organizational alignment and problem solving. That’s the core of what we’re about here at the Dryden Police Service. In our last public survey, 97% I believe it was, indicated that community policing for a model was very, very important to them.”
Palson says his team is among the best in forming partnerships and working with other community organizations for the betterment of everyone.
“This is all about people. This is about safety, health and well-being in the community and dealing with some of the root causes of crime. I’m amazed with the results and I’ve been involved with similar things, not to this extent over my years in policing different locations, I’ve never seen a group of people that there is in this community.”
Palson also pointed to the recent consultants report, noting he respects the work and mandate of MNP, but says some of the findings were based on assumptions and statistics that don’t relate to our area.
It stated Dryden had one of the highest Crime Severity Index rates in Ontario, something Palson denies.
“What really jumped out at me was the comparable’s that were used. A lot of the tables and figures. We need to focus on our region. Northwestern Ontario is unique. There’s a lot of great things happening here but we also have a lot of challenges.”
Palson noted there are too many factors in determining Crime Severity Index figures and the numbers often don’t reflect what’s happening in Ontario communities.
Calls for Service Report:
2019: 8,365
2018: 7,871
2017: 7,166
2016: 7,552
2015: 6,788
Calls on the rise:
Intoxication, mental health, property crimes, break and enters, criminal harassment and assisting the public or helping people.
Chief Doug Palson addressed finances during his report.
“We’re pretty proud of our budget. What we’ve been able to do with it. We have been able to keep our budget primarily under $4-million for about five years. Which is major. Which is significant.”
Palson says they are considering an addition of three new officers which would bring the 2022 proposed budget to $4,122,708
Proposed Budget for 2022:
-Two new Constables
-Civilian (Crisis Response/Mental Health)
-Classification Increase
Total: $250,000 increase from 2021 Approved Budget of $3,872,708
Palson notes these are Liberal figures and believes the costs will be lower with grant opportunities and other changes.
There are also pending new collective agreements.
Negotiations are now underway.
He adds the new additions haven’t been discussed or approved by the Police Board.
Financial’s:
2015: Budget: $3,978,453. Actual: $3,514,965
2016: Budget: $3,725,660. Actual: $3,705,428
2017: Budget: $4,078,720. Actual: $4,078,720
2018: Budget: $3,930,960. Actual: $3,928,785
2019: Budget: $3,947,211. Actual: $3,787,294
The proposed 2023 Budget is $4,167,708
Bates and Palson also pointed to the fact that switching to a provincial model would take spending decisions away from the municipality.
The next step in the Police Costing Study is a virtual public meeting Thursday, June 24.
The deadline to register for comments or a delegation is June 21.
Go to the June 14 meeting video at the bottom of the City of Dryden Meeting Page page to hear the full report from Chair Garry Bates and Chief Doug Palson.
