Category Archives: Policing

Police Costing Facts & Myths

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The choice of a police service delivery model in any municipality is contentious.

During the costing phase, posturing takes place and Amherstburg is not unique: ratepayers have a vested interest in the municipality’s highest budget item and politicians may mention loss of control.

However, unlike other municipalities, the Amherstburg Police Association and the Amherstburg Police Services Board agreed to hefty buyouts that inhibited the possibility of costing options.

A new tab is being added to the burg watch called Police Costing Facts & Myths.

New Enhanced Accessible Parking Permit (APP) and Enforcement-Related Supports

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Commentary by Linda Saxon

All Chiefs of Police, Ontario’s municipalities, and the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers Association have been advised about the new enhanced Accessible Parking Permit (APP) and enforcement-related supports.

Enforcement of accessible parking infractions in Amherstburg in the past, verified by former Police Chief Roger Hollingworth, was minimal; he confirmed that Amherstburg did not have new tickets for bylaw enforcement until January 30, 2009.

In 2009, the Amherstburg Police Service issued one accessible parking infraction and one more by the spring of 2010; Hollingworth advised the town By-Law Officer may also have issued some but he did not have that information or specific information relative to the number that were contested and/or proceeded to trial and/or convictions, if any.

Since the Town of Amherstburg 2015 Public Events Manual contains outdated terminology, for example, “disabled persons parking spaces and Designated Disabled Parking spaces;” it needs to be updated to reflect the fact that the Accessible Parking Permit (APP) was renamed years ago.

And, although the manual mentions barrier free, there is no reference regarding what barrier free standard, if any, is to be implemented.

Not one member of the current council responded to my suggestions to improve and update the town’s Public Events Manual.

What Do Amherstburg And LaSalle Have In Common?

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Commentary by Linda Saxon

In yesterday’s Windsor Star, Columnist Anne Jarvis promoted the benefits of regional government and proposed, “How about one regional police force, cutting administration costs and providing all special services, from tactical team to canine unit, within minutes.”

Jarvis didn’t mention any studies that show there were no benefits from amalgamation nor the Auditor General’s Report documenting the cost savings to OPP policed communities.

Jarvis critiqued “politicians like LaSalle Mayor Ken Antaya, who snarled recently, “What do we have in common with the City of Windsor? We share a border. That’s about it.”

What Do Amherstburg And LaSalle Have In Common? Besides sharing a border, both Amherstburg and LaSalle Police Services Boards were sued by one of their own police officers.

Ian Russell was a defendant in Praskey v. Toronto Police Services Board, retired from Toronto Police in 1995, then resigned from the Ontario Parole Board to become Chief of LaSalle Police Service in April, 1997.

Russell was a defendant in Renaud vs. LaSalle Police Services Board; he retired in 2000 amid controversy.

In Saxon vs. Wilfred Fryer and Amherstburg Police Services Board, the local news reported that Fryer was named as chief and that the motion was rescinded.

Policing options are contentious in any community and debate is sometimes clouded by the perpetuation of myths, fear mongering and misinformation.

Edmonton Police Body Cameras On Hold Due To Lack Of Funding

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On January 23, 2016, CBC News reported, “The project is by no means a cheap one. With an initial hardware and software cost of $412,000 and an operating cost of $425,000, the program would run just shy of costing a million dollars.”

Amherstburg Police began its body camera pilot program for 30 days in April 2013 when the River Town Times reported police aren’t sure how big of a server will be required to store the data so it is unknown how much the entire project will cost if brought on board on a permanent basis. The article quoted Amherstburg Police Chief Tim Berthiuame, “At the end of the 30 days we will see how big of a server we will need and if it’s a good fit for the Amherstburg Police.”

The Amherstburg Police project was scheduled to conclude its study by the end of 2014, but in 2015, Amherstburg chief wanted all front-line police to wear body cameras.

Amherstburg should opt for cheaper OPP policing

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Commentary by Linda Saxon

Published on: December 15, 2015 Windsor Star

Re: Amherstburg asks Windsor to make an offer on regional policing, by Trevor Wilhelm, Dec. 7.

Mayor Drew Dilkens believes Windsor can outdo the OPP in effectiveness and save Amherstburg money. But will it save the approximate $1 million that the OPP model would save the taxpayers?

I doubt it, especially given that regional police services have considered and/or obtained OPP costings and the majority of police services in the province do have OPP provide policing services.

According to OPP estimates, municipalities with and without contracts save on average anywhere from 35 per cent to 60 per cent by using the OPP instead of having their own police forces — figures reported by the auditor general of Ontario.

For many years, the OPP communications system was in effect countywide. Rather than take advantage of their system, Amherstburg paid for LaSalle’s, then Leamington’s and then back to LaSalle’s dispatching when Leamington switched to OPP policing.

If Windsor and Amherstburg police combined services, it would be an amalgamation of two services, not a regional policing model.

Regardless, Amherstburg would have to incur the expense, once again, for another new communications system since, at this point, Windsor and Amherstburg’s communication systems are incompatible.

The Records Management System of the two policing services is also incompatible. Windsor does not use the NICHE system that OPP, Amherstburg and most other police services use.

Amherstburg taxpayers have long supported a police department hierarchy unparalleled by similar-sized OPP detachments and regardless of whether a community decides on an amalgamated service or a regional policing model that extra financial burden will continue.

Amherstburg need only look to the experience and savings its neighbouring communities enjoy by opting for the OPP policing option.

Amherstburg Police Services Board’s Decision Re Cheap Silver Police Retirement Badge

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Mayor DiCarlo confirmed that it was a Board decision to provide a cheap silver retirement badge to Sgt. Jim Saxon and he did anticipate it might be an issue. Nothing changed.

Two sets of badges were ordered – one in silver for all retiring officers in 2013/2014 and another in gold for everyone but Sgt. Saxon.

As of November 18, 2014, APSB members were John Sutton, Frank Cleminson, Pauline Gemmell and Wayne Hurst.

Also posted to bullyinginpolicing.com on the saxon page.

Amherstburg chief wants all front-line police to wear body cameras

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If Chief Timothy Berthiaume has “always been committed to openness and transparency” why are the costs of data storage and court transcription not disclosed?
The pilot program began in April 2013, not January 1, 2014.
Given the $46 million debt Amherstburg is dealing with, (about half of Windsors’s debt) how can wish list items like these cameras be justified?
Windsor Police Chief Al Frederick says the costs are prohibitive and other police services feel the same way.

Amherstburg Police – A Cheap And Shameful Sendoff

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It has been a long standing tradition for police officers to receive a gold badge upon retirement; that is until Sgt. Saxon retired and received a cheap silver badge.

This wouldn’t be the first time that Saxon has received differential treatment, but it is the distasteful conclusion of a long history of 28 years and 8 months, a summary of which can be found at bullyinginpolicing.com, but in a nutshell:

  • he didn’t get promoted, despite being qualified
  • he was excluded from a succession plan
  • his personal medical information and that of his family’s was breached
  • fellow officers surreptitiously followed and reported on his and his family’s activities
  • i was surreptitiously investigated for an alleged criticism of the police
  • procedures were not followed for medals routinely given to others
  • police reported to great west life, “both him and his wife are activists and are always on about something, they have a website, etc.”
  • the board dismissed my subsequent complaint about Berthiaume following a one-sided investigation
  • he was denied benefits once he turned 60, contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

I can understand how entrenched the local attitude is, coming from local residents who want to keep the local cops, despite the estimated extra million or million and half cost to the taxpayer every year.

However, no one will ever convince me that the local police are somehow worth keeping, a sentiment shared by others I’ve had conversations with, including ‘locals.’

To treat one of their own officers with such disdain instigates nothing but disrespect and disgust from me.

Commentary by Linda Saxon