Owen Sound City Hall. (Photo by Claire McCormack. July 2024)
Owen Sound councillors will decide later this month if they’re interested in pursuing police service partnership discussions with West Grey.
Mayor Ian Boddy provided formal notice Monday he will introduce a motion at city council’s meeting on Sept. 23 to explore the “potential implementation of joint municipal police services with the municipality of West Grey.”
If approved, Owen Sound’s city manager would engage with West Grey, and the Owen Sound and West Grey Police Services boards to evaluate the feasibility, benefit and potential structure of a joint police service.
- Owen Sound Mayor Intends To Bring Motion To Pursue Police Partnership Discussions With West Grey
- West Grey Starts Discussions With Owen Sound On Possible Joint Police Service
West Grey council has already passed a similar motion, which was brought by its mayor, Kevin Eccles.
The notice of motion read by Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy at Monday’s council meeting appears below:
“Whereas municipalities have a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of their residents,
and whereas efficient and effective law enforcement is crucial for maintaining public order, preventing crime and protecting citizens,
and whereas joint municipal police services can lead to enhanced resource allocation, improved coordination and greater operational efficiencies,
and whereas the consolidation of police services can provide access to specialized units and advanced technology that may not be feasible for individual municipalities to sustain independently,
and whereas joint municipal police services can lead to cost savings through shared resources, reduced administrative overhead and bulk purchasing,
and whereas neighbouring municipalities often face similar public safety challenges and can benefit from a unified approach to law enforcement,
and whereas joint municipal police services can enhance the ability to respond to emergencies, large scale incidents through combined personnel and equipment,
and whereas collaborative police services can strengthen community relations by fostering a sense of shared responsibility and partnership among municipalities,
therefore it be resolved that council endorse the exploration and potential implementation of joint municipal police services with the municipality of West Grey,
and therefore be further resolved that council direct the city manager to initiate discussions with representatives of West Grey, the West Grey Police Services Board, the Owen Sound Police Services Board to evaluate the feasiblity, benefit and potential structure of a joint municipal police service.”