Proudly serving the community of Essex and surrounding areas.
Vol. 136
A LOOK INSIDE Library strike continues PAGE 3 _______________ Essex Council Notes PAGE 5 _______________ Essex discusses future of election of Deputy Mayor PAGE 7 _______________ EDHS grad Mark Armstrong earns academic medal PAGE 15 ________________ cOPPs for Charity PAGE 17 ________________ CLEC enjoys successful Charity Golf Classic PAGE 22 ________________
Looking For A Good Home
“PABLO PICATSO” See Page 5 for adoption info.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Issue No. 29
Essex welcomes new OPP Contract Manager by Jennifer Cranston Last week, OPP Sergeant Jeff Coulter took his place as the new OPP Contract Manager for Essex. Put simply, Sergeant Coulter will manage the contract between the Town of Essex and the OPP, but the job is more complicated than that. He explained that he is now the official liaison for Essex with the OPP. “It gives me the opportunity to advocate for the Town,” he said. Along with managing the office staff at the Essex OPP Detachment in Harrow, and handling the day-to-day business of the detachment, he will also be the face of the service for citizens. Community issues are referred to him, as well as concerns from individuals about on-going issues in their neighbourhoods. For example, traffic issues at a particular location, or an ongoing problem in a certain area, can be directed to him so that he can assign officers on routine patrol to where they are most needed. He also reads the daily reports to stay apprised of possible patterns and developing situations, and more effectively manage local police patrol. The position is not that of a “crime analyst,” he explained. His job is to provide a more personal touch and a consistent face for the community and the Town to deal with. He will also be a regular at the Police Services Board meetings. In OPP policed communities that have a contract manager, the position is often filled by more experienced officers who have a good understanding of the community. Sergeant Coulter is no exception to that custom. He has been living and policing in Essex since 1989. He is one of the few remaining officers to have served on the Essex Police service. He was born and raised in Leamington and began his policing career as a Park Warden and Deputy Conservationist with the Ministry of Natural Resources. “I decided to police the streets instead of the bush,” he said about his career change. He has been on patrol in this community for 27 years. He said that this new position is one he’s had his eye on for a long time, and while he filled in for one year in the same position in Kingsville, he has always hoped to serve in this capacity for Essex. Coulter is involved in his community, volunteering in local youth sports, and often lending a hand wherever it’s needed. He’s even been known to shovel the snow off a local pond so kids have a place to skate during the winter.