The police costing debate in Dryden reached a boiling point this week.
Council will decide July 26 whether to stick with the Dryden Police Service or switch to OPP.
Tensions were high at a virtual meeting when Chief Administrative Officer Roger Nesbitt asked Council to set a date for a vote.
Shayne MacKinnon wasn’t prepared, stressing the entire study has been flawed since day one.
“The Council members on the Police Costing Committee are really good and sincere people but I would be embarrassed to be associated with this process. People in Dryden are not stupid, and they know when their being ignored and railroaded.”
The second Police Costing Review since 2017 started October 26 and included presentations from Dryden OPP, Dryden Police, a virtual public meeting, and a public survey.
MacKinnon says, “We go to the public meeting. Oh, my goodness, what a farce! You know I realize it was COVID-19 effected. It was on the same night, 28th of June I think, as the Graduation. It was in the Summer.”
MacKinnon demanded an in-person public Town Hall meeting.
“Not everybody has a computer, or a connection, or the apps to go along with that, or even a home, some people don’t have a home, but they have a voice, and we should be giving them a venue to use it. So, I think if we’re going the way we are with COVID, we should be having a public meeting on this so all you Councillors can listen to the public, the people that voted for you.”
MacKinnon also suggested the scales were tipped against the Dryden Police Service from the start.
“So, let’s change the game. Let’s make Dryden look so bad that folks will be afraid in their own homes. Even if this is not the case, the perception will be there. You know let’s then blame that on the local police service. You know they’re not adequate. They’re not effective.”
MacKinnon notes, “The survey, which is a travesty of fairness and it’s leading all the way through it. It’s not impartial at all and it points directly to the Crime Severity Index numbers, which are flawed.”
According to the StatsCanada Crime Severity Index data:
-Dryden had the highest average CSI for the report’s benchmark communities during the period of 2015-2019
-Dryden had the second highest CSI growth rate over the same period (17% annually)
-Both violent and non-violent CSI are increasing with non-violent CSI growing at a faster rate
MacKinnon stresses, “I think we have a great little community here. Some things are worth keeping, worth growing and worth fighting for and this is one of them and our job is to build the community. We were elected to build. I think we need to listen to the public.”
Others on Council were quick to strike back on some of the comments from Shayne MacKinnon.
John Carlucci sits on the police costing committee.
“I don’t like being insulted. I don’t like our staff being insulted. I think they’ve done a fantastic job; the committee has done a fantastic job. I’m sorry, I’m just totally offended for what you just said to us.”
Norm Bush says, “I’m not embarrassed to be a part of that committee. I think the committee did a very good job in terms of trying to be objective, trying to get a good handle on real differences in governance, real differences in service levels and the real financial impact.”
He adds, “I think that committee went to great lengths to be as objective as they possibly could. To really understand all the issues related to three things; governance, service levels and financial impact.”
Martin MacKinnon responded to a claim that the numbers were skewed in the direction of OPP.
He calls it a “ludicrous statement.”
MacKinnon adds, “I’m all for getting this over with and getting on with this. Let’s just take this and put it to bed for all of these people that need to get on with their lives.”
Michelle Price also sits on the Police Committee.
“We didn’t go in with pre-conceived notions on anything. My mind was ready to absorb all of the information that was given to me and determine which way to go based on that information. To say that we are being unfair, or being ludicrous, or being crazy, or anything like that, it is a slam to me. You know it’s an insult.”
Police Costing Public Survey Results Based On 338 Responses:
Question 1: How important is Reducing Severe Crime (Crime Severity Index) to you, when considering policing services?
Critical: 200
Very Important: 107
Somewhat Important: 26
Of Little Importance: 4
Not Important: 1
Question 2: How important is Solving Crimes (Clearance Rate) to you, when considering policing services?
Critical: 177
Very Important: 132
Somewhat Important: 27
Of Little Importance: 2
Question 3: How important is Increased Police Presence and Enforcement in the City to you, when considering policing services?
Critical: 169
Very Important: 122
Somewhat Important: 36
Of Little Importance: 7
Not Important: 4
Question 4: How important is the Cost of Policing to you, when considering policing services?
Critical: 80
Very Important: 115
Somewhat Important: 103
Of Little Importance: 27
Not Important: 13
Question 5: How important is Response Times (measurement of manpower capacity) to you, when considering policing services?
Critical: 160
Very Important: 130
Somewhat Important: 39
Of Little Importance: 7
Not Important: 2
Question 6: How important is Reducing the Cost of Policing (Deliver adequate and effective policing services at a lower cost) to you, when considering policing services?
Critical: 75
Very Important: 82
Somewhat Important: 121
Of Little Importance: 43
Not Important: 17
Question 7: How important is Community involvement (Officers in schools, attending public events, etc.) to you, when considering policing services?
Critical: 98
Very Important: 130
Somewhat Important: 86
Of Little Importance: 14
Not Important: 10
Question 8: Based on the 2021 Report of Findings, how would you personally view a transition to the OPP for the community?
Extremely Desirable: 135
Very Desirable: 27
Somewhat Desirable: 17
Not so Desirable: 159
Survey results and other police costing information and numbers available at Police Costing
