Safe community

OPP Prince Edward Detachment Commander Sgt. Barry Freeburn answers questions over two hours last week.

But the cost to keep it that way, will continue to rise

The handful of residents who came out Thursday night had their choice of dozens of chairs arrayed in the Highline Hall in Wellington. In fact, at times, there were more uniformed folks than civilians in the large banquet hall. Fewer still had come out to hear the OPP in Picton the night before.

“I take this to mean that most people feel safe and secure in this community,” observed Sergeant Barry Freeburn, detachment commander of the Prince Edward County OPP.

He is surely correct. Despite higher than average rates of murder and domestic violence in Prince Edward County—most people feel unthreatened by crime in this community.

Sgt. Freeburn knows this because he regularly conducts an informal survey of the community, opening the phone book and randomly calling a couple of dozen names. He asks them about their concerns. What worries them, what doesn’t.

“We live in a very, very safe community,” said Sgt. Freeburn. “And that is good thing.”

Yet not everyone is happy with the OPP— particularly with rising costs, but also the impersonal way they tend to conduct themselves. Some complained that the larger concern wasn’t crime, but police themselves.

POLICING IN THE COUNTY
Sgt. Freeburn noted that his detachment clears nearly all incidents of violent crime. There are very “whodunnits” in this community as it is usually clear who did what to whom. They have a much poorer record in clearing property crimes—at about 20 per cent. Although he knows that much of this type of crime is perpretrated by the same group of people.

“We have a problem with addiction, but it is not unlike other communities of this size,” said Sgt. Freeburn. He said many calls for service can be traced to addiction issues among a small group of people.

His fellow officer, Constable Kim Guthrie, rejected the suggestion that the County is a training ground for fresh recruits. Indeed, the uniformed folks assembled in Highline Hall were all senior and experienced officers.

“It is an offensive rumour,” said Const. Guthrie. “A strong and proud number of our officers live here and have served here for many years. Some have spent their entire career here.”

Freeburn underlined the desirability of serving in the County.

“I am a 30-year guy,” said Freeburn, meaning he is at a point in his career where he could pick and choose his assignment. “I am here because I want to live here.”

NO MORE OFFICER FRIENDLY
David Harrison suggested the OPP have a public relations problem in Prince Edward County.

“People see a very heavy-handed approach when they deal with the OPP,” said Harrison. “More people would be here if the police were out and about and more friendly. County citizens don’t want to be treated like criminals”

Sgt. Freeburn countered that his detachment receives one of the lowest rates of complaints of any in the province. But he also added that the days of ‘Officer Friendly’ are over. The world has changed.

“Policing has moved on,” said Sgt. Freeburn. “The times I’ve almost lost my life, was by people I knew. We’ve changed the way we do business.”

He noted the each officer now wears a bulletproof vest and carries a baton as part of everyday uniform. He noted, however, that there was work his detachment could do and is doing to improve the relationship with the community. That includes public meetings, visiting schools and increased foot patrols.

RISING COSTS
The most pointed questions dealt with the rising cost of policing in this community. In 2000, policing costs in the County were just under $2.5 million. This year the cost will be $5.5 million. Next year it is projected to rise above $6 million.

Sgt. Freeburn says compared with other jurisdictions in Ontario, County residents have had a good deal. But he doubts that will continue. A new funding formula is being promoted by the provincial government that seeks to balance the cost of policing. Lower cost communities such as this will pay more, others will pay less. In this way, the government and policing officials hope to ease the general unhappiness about rising cost of policing in Ontario.

It could be even worse for Prince Edward County. There are 40 officers serving this community—of whom the municipality pays for just 32. The province pays for the remaining officers in recognition of the County’s large shoreline and waterways that must be patrolled, and the provincial park.

Freeburn expects that a revision to the funding formula will see an increase in the number of officers the municipality will have to pay.

“It takes more than 32 officers to do your policing,” said Sgt. Freeburn. “We need four to five more officers to do the job.”

He notes too that provincial park is not the policing issue many believe it to be. He says the park represents only about 200 calls for service each year, out of about 10,000 they attend.

“The issues we deal with are mostly local,” said Freeburn.

Freeburn noted too stepped up enforcement of distracted driving—specifically those using an electronic device while driving—texting, calling and setting a GPS unit.

“Distracted driving is now the leading cause of a deadly motor vehicle accident,” said Sgt. Freeburn. “More than speed. More than careless driving. It’s not just kids—it’s everybody.”

Fines have risen to $280 for distracted driving. Enforcement has been stepped up.

The following morning an OPP officer sat in his vehicle among a row of parked cars. The officer, equipped with powerful binoculars, was scaning the traffic ahead, ready to pull over the next person talking on their cellphone or texting while driving.