OPP defers municipal police contract renewals

ORILLIA, ON, Oct. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is deferring contract renewal discussions with municipalities while it works with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services on a new billing model for municipal policing services.

Municipalities whose contracts expire before Jan. 1, 2015, will have two options:

• Amend their current contract to continue until the new billing model is ready (Section 10 of the Police Service Act).
• Let their contract expire and be policed by the OPP on a non-contract basis (Section 5.1 of the Police Service Act) until the new billing model is launched).

"No matter what option affected communities choose, there will be no discernible change in service," said OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis. "The OPP looks forward to working with all its municipal partners, and we ask that they be patient during the transition period to the new billing model."

The OPP is also deferring discussions with municipalities seeking new estimates and costs for contracting police services in their community until details of the new billing model are finalized.

Ontario Engaging Municipalities on New OPP Billing Model

SOURCE: Ontario Provincial Police

Superintendent Rick Philbin, Commander, Municipal Policing Bureau
Phone:  [phone]