A Cobourg resident was surprised to learn that the “service” in Cobourg Police Service was missing on Friday December 13, 2024.
The individual who asked not to be named because they’re still dealing with the service contacted Today’s Northumberland shortly after visiting the station.
The front door was open, but the area to the right where staff at the police station look after you was closed and the door was locked.
The normal posted hours indicated the station is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
The resident used a phone located inside the lobby to contact Owen Sound Police who dispatch for the Cobourg Police and they weren’t much help either.
“It was a bit of back and forth because they (Owen Sound dispatch) kept saying they are open and I said they weren’t.”
A uniformed officer did come out and told the resident they were really short-handed.
“The officer said he couldn’t deal with my matter.”
With dispatch not realizing that part of the station was closed it appears, “the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.”
“I’ve never heard of, or been in a police station during normal business hours of Monday to Friday that was closed.”
“I get being short staffed, but closing the doors – it’s not acceptable.”
Today’s Northumberland sent a e-mail to Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf, Communications Manager Lisa Munday, Police Services Board Chair Ron Kerr, and Deputy Police Services Board Chair Adam Bureau at 12:06 p.m. on Friday asking for comment and have yet to hear back.