Amherstburg reviewing five options for future of town’s policing

The Town of Amherstburg is reviewing its options for a police force as contract ends. CTV Windsor's Robert Lothian reports.

All options are on the table for the future of policing in Amherstburg, according to Town Mayor Michael Prue.

At Monday night’s regular council meeting, following an in-camera discussion, town council directed staff to take five steps to aid in deciding who oversees Amherstburg’s law enforcement.

The five directives are as follows:

• Advise the City of Windsor that the town would like to discuss removal of the current policing contract
• Engage the Town of LaSalle about a potential partnership with the LaSalle Police Service
• Research the approximate cost of contracting the OPP
• Review cost of re-establishing a municipal police service
• Investigate a county-wide police service

At the end of 2024, The City of Windsor informed Amherstburg a policing contract, which has Windsor Police Service operate in the town, would be coming to an end after Dec. 31, 2028.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens has said the decision is due to “financial” reasons, but noted the service could continue with a re-negotiated deal.

Prue said it would be “very difficult” to continue any agreement with the City of Windsor, feeling they’ve been treated unfairly.

“We are going to go back and talk to them and see exactly what they want but I’m not being held hostage,” Prue told CTV News following Monday night’s decision. “There are other options we have, and we are going to explore those as well.”

The town will begin discussions next week to see which policing opportunities are realistic.

“I’ve always championed a regional police [service], but I don’t know that there’s any appetite for that out there,” Prue said when asked about his preference. “LaSalle is a very attractive option, but I don’t know. You don’t know who’s going to say yes.”

Amherstburg previously shifted away from its own municipal force at the end of 2018 to enter into an agreement with Windsor.

Prue said a revived version of the Amherstburg Police Service is “unlikely” due to resources.

“That may be problematic because we would have to find 30 police officers. [It is] very hard to find 30 brand new officers to come and start a new force,” he said.

The town expects the process to move fast given the logistical challenges that come with welcoming a new law enforcement entity.

Prue said he expects discussions about the future of Amherstburg policing to return to the table by this fall.