Is it time to switch police services?
Is it time to disband Cobourg Police and go with the Ontario Provincial Police?
The switch is something I’ve never contemplated in my 61-years on this earth.
The OPP is an amazing service and when I say it’s something I never would have contemplated it’s in no way meant as a disrespectful comment.
The Police Services Board has their own issues that are concerning.
Bring concerns to the Police Services Board – and you’ll likely never get a reply even though concerns were brought to the last PSB meeting.
The Board should have the common courtesy to reply when e-mails are sent to the Board and brought up at meetings.
Certain people at the Cobourg Police Service seem more like ghosts than employees.
A recent break-in at a local pharmacy has yet to be released by police.
The pharmacy said that a number of expensive items were taken including prescriptions, but after more than a week and after sending two e-mails to the media relations officer, including one to the Chief, there has been no reply.
Crickets.
Why is it important?
We don’t know what was taken. Were they deadly drugs? The public shouldn’t have to hear about break-ins from social media.
Police have a media relations officer.
If the media relations officer isn’t going to issue releases and more importantly issue relevant releases, than save thousands of dollars and get the Sergeant on each shift to issue releases.
Northumberland OPP released images on Tuesday of a person of interest involved in a theft of items just over $600. It certainly isn’t the biggest theft ever to take place, but it gives the public they serve the confidence they are doing what they can to make it known the investigation is taking place and asking for the public’s help.
With a break-in at a pharmacy, the public is left to guess what was taken.
The public has to trust the police, not only the officers, but the Service itself.
Media is slowly fading. Local media only reports what is given to them in a release and never, ever questions why other incidents aren’t reported. It’s not about making enemies it’s about holding agencies, including police accountable.
The less questions that are asked by the media to the Service and Board, the more the empire grows.
They give the impression they will release what they want, when they want and keep what they want away from public eyes.
There have been two, possibly three overdose deaths in the last few months.
How many arrests have been made in that time period for people with possession or even trafficking?
We don’t mean a person that is arrested as a result of a assault or another matter, then police find illegal drugs. When was the last time there was an arrest for these deadly drugs on the streets of Cobourg?
How hard would it be to find dealers given the amount of drugs on the streets?
The police trailer was removed from the Victoria Park Campground this year. It’s the first time it hasn’t been located in the campground for a number of years.
Why wasn’t that brought to the Boards attention?
The trailer was important for a number of reasons. It had an AED (automatic external defibrillator). In the peak summer season there are thousands of people on the beach. With no lifeguards, multiply that by having no police trailer, where do people go in a emergency?
For a lost child?
A missing swimmer?
Auxiliary members who were at the trailer had colouring books, directions and helped people. It was a great way to introduce the youth to police.
But when that was removed from the park it was only the media that brought that to the attention of the Police Services Board and members of the public.
At a recent event at Chris Garrett Memorial Park, there were very few members at the ceremony.
The Deputy Chief spoke and mispronounced Garrett’s name. The Chair of the Police Services Board was in attendance along with a member. Three members of the service participated locally in the run.
Over the weekend at the Harvest Festival in Cobourg, there were only two members of the service visible.
The Deputy Chief and an auxiliary officer.
Don’t just paint a perfect picture at each Board meeting. The good, the bad and the ugly should be given in reports.
The Board should ask the questions that need to be asked.
They should be out in the community and seeing what is and isn’t being done. Not just at official functions. Know your community, know your product.
Having the crest of the Police Services Board should mean more than just sitting around a table once a month.
There is an emergency box at the front of the Cobourg Police station that has a sign on the front stating currently, it’s “out of order.”
It would seem it may not be the only thing that isn’t working at the service.
The last thing I ever thought I’d say is it might be time to look into the local OPP, but if things don’t improve sooner than later – it might be worth it.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
