Tilbury & Wheatley This Week by Sun Media Chatham

Thursday, April 7, 2011 • Tilbury & Wheatley This Week

Police chiefs discuss election issues Don Robinet QMI Agency Police chiefs from across the province discussed issues they would like politicians to keep in mind in the lead-up to the Oct. 6 provincial election. The meeting of about 15 police chiefs from around Ontario took place at the Retro Suites Hotel on March 30. Only a fraction of police services were represented, as zone chairs each represent several departments. Chief Dennis Poole of the Chatham-Kent Police Service was the host. He is also chair of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) zone representing police services in southwestern Ontario. Robert Herman is president of the OACP, as well as chief of the force in Thunder Bay. He told reporters, during a break in the meeting, “We’re looking strategies we want to put forward to the major parties during this election.” Herman said community safety was the primary focus of the meeting. He added the board meets five times per year. “We want to ensure the legislation is current and up to date,” said Herman. Pawnshop regulations provide an example of outdated legislation he thinks should be changed. Herman said the antiquated rules require the owners of pawnshops to keep paper, hand-written records for all of their transactions. Herman said that means when police are carrying out an investigation, involving a shop’s transactions, there is too much wasted time. “You’re talking about countless hours,” he said. Herman also said police chiefs are hoping for changes to the Police Services Act that would allow police officers to be suspended without pay in certain circumstances. He said that in cases of serious charges, officers continue to receive pay, sometimes for several years, until the case is resolved. Only after they have been found guilty and incarcerated do they stop receiving pay. Herman said when such cases occur,

Don Robinet/QMI Agency

Robert Herman, president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, and chief of the Thunder Bay Police Service, speaks to reporters March 30 during a meeting of the association held in Chatham. “taxpayers are outraged.” Herman said there are also concerns about the costs of some SIU (Special Investigations Unit), a civilian agency that investigates allegations involving, death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault involving police officers and members of the public. Herman said the costs are borne by the communities where the investigation takes place. “A community can only pay so much. We agree oversight is essential, but there has to be limitations to how far oversight goes,” said Herman. While it is the province that oversees police forces, the OACP is also concerned about nearly 330 officers across the province whose salary is being paid by a federal grant. The program is due to end in 2013. In ChathamKent, there are two officers whose salary is covered by the grant. “Our concern is public safety, and community safety, is not a high priority for government,” said Herman.

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