Police Review Opens Today in Pugwash
After a one day postponement, the Pugwash area will now get its chance to talk about police services.
The County-wide police review moves to the Saint Thomas More Church Hall this afternoon from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
The event was originally set for yesterday but was postponed when Cumberland passed a resolution to close all county offices and activities to participate in the day of mourning for the Queen’s funeral.
A few people missed the notice and gathered briefly outside the Pugwash Fire Hall.
This is the third in a series of five public meetings seeking community input on what people want in police services.
It has become clear from the first two meetings —in Parrsboro and Springhill— that people have grievances with the current level of service and emergency response times. However, the sessions will emphasise the future not the past.
The question of effective policing goes back a few years when the former county council debated the rising cost —now 5.1 million dalliers per year— and began discussions with the RCMP about cutbacks. A plan was agreed to reduce the county force by three, which was expected to end in closure of the Pugwash detachment.
However, with the change in municipal council, just over a year ago, the RCMP were informed that closing a detachment was not an option. In fact, the new council wanted a change to a high police profile within communities.
The police review is part of that process, as council gathers the mood and will of the people. A committee consisting of four citizens and four councillors, representing the eight county districts, will receive a consultants report following the series of public meetings and other online and special interest presentations. That committee will review the findings and present a recommendation to council, expected by November. Mayor Murray Scott has said repeatedly that he hopes a decision can be made by January.
The options include a new contract with the RCMP or a call for proposals to hire another existing police force, or create a new force, perhaps in joint with Colchester County, Amherst, or Truro.
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