DRYDEN, Ont. – The City of Dryden may consider doing away with its police force and replacing it with the OPP.
In a release issued on Wednesday, Dryden city council announced it has asked staff to put together a proposal outlining the OPP costing process for consideration for Monday’s scheduled council meeting. A special meeting of council is expected to be called for May 23 at 7 p.m. to debate and discuss the issue.
City officials say the request was made entirely for financial considerations and is not a reflection of the job Dryden Police Service is currently performing.
Economic hardship is to blame, said Mayor Greg Wilson and CAO Ernie Remillard in the jointly issued release.
Dryden requires $9 million annually in infrastructure replacement and will experience high city debt levels through 2021. The community also places blame with the provincial government, which it says routinely downloads programs to the municipality.
Ongoing reductions to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund and a decreased industrial tax base is also having an effect on the city’s ability to pay for a municipal police service.
The study would take the OPP up to a year to complete and present to council for consideration, should the plan move forward.
Council would then have six months to make a decision.
"Council recognizes that this will be a time of uncertainty for many people and we will make sure that communication lines remain open and that we are available to answer questions and receive input," the two officials wrote in the release, reiterating no decisions have been made and promising to work closely with DPS throughout the evaluation process.
