Police service in the City of Dryden has officially changed over from the Dryden Police Service to Provincial Police.
Council voted 6-1 last year in favour of the move.
Mayor Greg Wilson has released the following statement about the transition:
This month marks the end of an era of small town policing and we owe all involved a debt of gratitude as we transition police protection services to the Ontario Provincial Police.
On behalf of Council and the City of Dryden I wish to thank the many DPS men and women, past and present, who faithfully served our town for generations both on the front lines and behind the scenes. We are proud of you and grateful for your dedication and service.
Faced with the highest policing cost per household in the region (if not the whole Province), the City had little choice but to opt for a more financially sustainable policing model. Annual costs increases of twice the rate of inflation for the past 15 years have made financing the local police service more and more difficult. Times and challenges for police services have also changed. Skyrocketing hard drug use, the infiltration of gangs into Dryden resulting in the highest crime severity index in the region have made resourcing policing even more onerous.
Policing services in Dryden will now have increased resources at their disposal. Citizens should be comforted knowing that the City will have between three to six more officers patrolling the streets. Taxpayers can look forward to lower annual policing costs once the transition is fully complete.
Thank you again to the members of the DPS for your past service. We look forward to seeing many of your familiar faces serving the community under the OPP.
Mayor Greg Wilson
