March 29, 2010
Jessica Smith
Atikokan’s policing costs for 2009 have come in under-budget for the third year in a row.
Total spending – $1,285,950 – was almost $30,000 less than estimated. “This is good news, “said Mayor Dennis Brown at Thursday’s police services board meeting. “Every year we have been able to get money back.”
In the previous two years the Town has seen reconciled costs result in surpluses of just over $ 98,000 in 2008 and $ 76,000 in 2007. This past year some wage increases and less need for detachment officers to work outside of the service area made for a lower surplus, said Rainy River District detachment commander Insp. John Kendrick.
• Last September’s public complaint against three Atikokan police officers has resulted in an informal discipline of one officer following investigation by the OPP provincial standards bureau. While the complaint regarding the conduct of officers involved was found to be unsubstantiated, the bureau concluded that the investigating officer had conducted an improper investigation.
“As they went through the investigation they picked out areas that they felt could have been handled better,” said Insp. Kendrick. The officer was offered and accepted an informal discipline, which under the Police Act can range from being required to undergo training or loss of work hours. The discipline remains on the officer’s file for two years.
• The OPP is continuing to assist the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office in the investigation of the Moose Hall fire. This caused an increase in overtime in January (32 hours), and the investigation is ongoing, said Insp. Kendrick. “We’re assisting the Fire Marshall’s office with collecting statements, etc.”
• Three officers from the Atikokan detachment, Constables Darryl Everett, Wayne Menard and Rob Chivers-Wilson, will join 19 other from this district in security detail for the G8 summit in Huntsville June 18-30. Kendrick said police officers from across the province are being asked to assist with providing security to the summit.
“Approximately one-third to half of available officers in the district are being assigned but there should not be any concern regarding the ability to fulfill contract policing obligations, or outside contract area services,” said Insp. Kendrick. He said that to ensure the district has adequate coverage, all vacation for officers has been cancelled during that time, and added that in this district “we met all our obligations from volunteers.”
• While Atikokan OPP officers will be enforcing the municipal traffic by-law as soon as the Town makes tickets available, the Town may consider hiring a part-time bylaw enforcement officer for other parking infractions.
In the OPP contract with the Town, police enforce handicapped parking and parking regulations related to snow removal, and the Town is responsible for enforcing regular and one-hour parking rules, said Sgt. Tim Fairbairn. The reason is mainly cost, he said. The time required for a police officer to issue a $4 or $5 ticket and possibly appear in court is more costly for the Town in terms of wages than to hire a part-time bylaw enforcement officer.
• The 2010 PSB budget request this year is $18,072.
• The PSB will request the installation of a stop sign on each end of the White St. bridge in a letter to Council. While there was some discussion about the possibility of putting a sign on the south side of the bridge instructing drivers to yield to bridge traffic to slow traffic entering from the arena side, members agreed two stop signs would be a better solution. There is no perfect answer because there is a blind spot on the bridge, but Sgt. Fairbairn said stop signs would serve to slow traffic, especially from the south side, as it enters the bridge.
• Insp. Kendrick provided some clarity to PSB members regarding motorized scooters. While the issue of their usage and governing legislation has caused confusion for members and scooter operators as well, the device is classified as a pedestrian under the Highway Traffic Act; as such all applicable rules applying to pedestrians must be applied to these devices. While this means they can lawfully be operated on sidewalks, due to the condition of many sidewalks around town, most opt to use the roadway. While board members and Sgt. Fairbairn agreed that both operators and motorists seem to share the roadway without too much difficulty, the OPP will continue to educate scooter operators on safe and lawful operations.
• After 30 years on the job, Sgt. Fairbairn retires July 1.
• PSB secretary Christine Spilchuk attended a Zone 1 meeting in Thunder Bay and said one of the highlights was touring the James Street forensics lab. The facility is shared between city police and OPP and is the only such collaborative facility in the province.
• This is the third year of the Rainy River District OPP’s three-year business planning cycle and the draft 2010 business plan has been compiled based on community partner consultation, and provincial policing objectives. This year’s priorities for delivery of front line policing are public safety (traffic enforcement and crime prevention), relationships (including community partnerships and educational initiatives), workforce (employee consultation, performance measures, and professional development), and effectiveness (reporting regularly to police services boards and municipal councils.) Strategies are reviewed throughout the year and reported quarterly.
Over the past thee years, district OPP have been working with community partners in justice, medical, social services, and educational disciplines to increase awareness of drug misuse and dependency, especially in light of the increasing level of prescription drug abuse, said Insp. Kendrick. Last year, through work with the Opiate Task Force, DARE and other education programs, a Community Drug Action Team officer was appointed for the district “who has been actively addressing the requirement of an enforcement component in response to this problem.”
• January charges: assault (1), breach of probation (1), possession of Cannibis (1), Liquor Licence Act violation (3), Motorized Snow Vehicle Act violation (1), Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act (1), Highway Traffic Act violation (1), driving while suspended (1).
February charges: assault (1), and breach of probation (2).
• The PSB will publicize upcoming board meetings in the municipal update section of the Progress. The next PSB meeting is May 25 at 1 p.m. at the Town hall’s emergency services room.
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