Tag Archives: Windsor Police Contract

Amherstburg’s OPP Costing Controversy Explained

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Revised from a 2018 blog post.

An RTT article, OPP Does Not Give Police Costing to Amherstburg, quoted Mayor DiCarlo, “Instead of getting a costing from the OPP, we got a letter saying they are not going to follow our guidelines.” The OPP “basically said no” when asked for the details the town wanted, said DiCarlo. He said it was “incredibly disappointing” the OPP didn’t want to work with the town’s guidelines, adding it was also “very frustrating” that while Windsor was willing the OPP “couldn’t be bothered.”

A September 14, 2017 letter from the OPP is addressed to Mayor Aldo DiCarlo.

Rather than indicate an unwillingness to follow the town’s guidelines, the OPP reiterated “the OPP utilizes the Information Manual for the OPP Contract Proposal Process for all contract proposals” and explained, “the process prescribed in your Request for Proposal differs in significant ways from the process described in our manual. As a result, the OPP cannot participate in your Request for Proposal.”

The OPP also stated, “we have made several attempts to schedule an information session to explain to your Council the OPP contract proposal process. Since we have not been provided with the opportunity to do so, we recommend that you and your Council familiarize yourself with the Information Manual, as it outlines all the steps involved in the contract proposal process.”

The OPP required a council resolution by September 30, 2017 if it wished to proceed.

The town confirmed that the September 14, 2017 letter from the OPP to Mayor Aldo DiCarlo was presented five months later to council at its February 26, 2018 meeting when a decision was made to contract Windsor Police.

Therefore, I disagree with the mayor’s position and submit the town did not follow the OPP costing process. How incredibly disappointing.

Windsor Police Contract Controversy: A Call for OPP Costing

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I emailed this to council: I am very concerned about Mayor Prue’s comments in the Windsor Star article re Windsor wanting to end the policing contract.

Prue is quoted as saying, “Council is going to have to look at all the options available to us,” he said. “We’re hoping that our CAO (chief administrative officer Valerie Critchley) can talk to the CAO (Joe Mancina) of Windsor and see if there’s anything that can be done. “And if not, then we have other options we’re going to have to explore.”

Council should first be exploring ALL options and then making a decision. Two previous council’s motions to obtain an OPP costing were never rescinded but also were not fulfilled which was a disservice to the taxpayers. Compared to savings of $1,742,205. over 5 years with Windsor, savings of around $10 million with the OPP would’ve been significant. 

Council’s December 5, 2022 recommendation and subsequent council motion was to extend the Windsor Police contract deadline to renew to March 31, 2023 so public consultations could be held.

No public consultations were held.

Then on February 8, 2023, council moved to direct the CAO to exercise the renewal clause in the contract for a five year period commencing January 1, 2024 to end December 31, 2028. 

During the February 8 meeting, Deputy Mayor Gibb stated there’s a significant cost difference to the OPP of around $2 million a year and he even provided me with the documents to support his statement.

I am requesting council to fulfill its fiduciary duty and obtain an OPP costing.