Packed public meeting in Amherstburg hears Windsor's police service bid

A packed public meeting was held in the town of Amherstburg Wednesday to discuss Windsor's bid to offer police services to the municipality.

• 'We can be there in 20 minutes': Windsor bidding to provide Amherstburg police service

• Petition to keep Amherstburg police has 1,200 signatures

It was the first of four public meetings which are being held in the hopes to have some "meaningful dialogue" with residents, said Amherstburg's chiefadministrationofficer JohnMiceli.

"Absolutely nothing will change," saidMiceli, adding that all of Amherstburg's police staff would stay on, except for thepolice chief anddeputy chief positions which would be replaced with a superintendent assigned to the town.

Micelisaid that information gathered at the public consultations will be brought to thejoint police advisory committee and a report is expected to go to council on Feb. 26.

The cost of the proposal is not publicbut Miceli estimates $600,000 in savings per year if the town accepts the bid, and the start date would be Jan. 1, 2019.

Denise Bondyattended the meeting to voice her concerns on the move.

"Right now from what I've read in the newspapers is that this is a change that should be resisted at the present time. Basically if it isn't broken why fix it? We have a cost efficient, friendly police service," she said.

Kurt Holm-Andersen has lived in Amherstburg since 1984, when his family moved there. He's concerned with havingWindsor policein his town.

"That is something I'm definitely not a fan of. I don't want to see it happen. Idon't want to lose our community policing," he said. "It's a different type of policing you need for a small town versus a large city."

All of the officers that currently work for Amherstburg will continue to do so...- Windsor Police Chief Al Frederick

Windsor Police Chief Al Frederick was on hand at the meeting, and said it was critical that townspeople have an opportunity to voice their concerns.

"We provide a service like many services it goes without notice most of the time and you will not lose in my experience you will not lose that small town feel andthe things you're most proud of in your community will remain," he said.

"In this case the face of the Amherstburg Police Service isn't going to change ... All of the officers that currently work for Amherstburg will continue to do so unless they choose to want to come to Windsor for opportunityand promotions and that sort of thing."

Micelisaid it's a five-year contract and the town would have the option to renew it or not 42 months in.