By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
While the August meeting of the Cobourg Police Services Board did not produce definitive figures in response to an enquiry by Today’s Northumberland, some figures can be expected soon.
The board cited Freedom of Information and Human Resources implications as it debated requests from editor Pete Fisher’s e-mail regarding “numerous officers off for various reasons at CPS.”
Fisher asked a number of specific questions – how many police officers work at CPS, how many are off, how many officers have left the CPS in the past two years, and whether officers assigned to other duties are now “working the road due to being short staffed and holidays?”
Board member Sean Graham said he had heard similar questions being asked in the community.
“As a board member, I actually at times don’t know where we are sitting,” Graham admitted.
Board Chair Ronald Kerr recalled a recent request made of Chief Paul VandeGraaf.
“I believe it was complied with,” the chief responded.
“I believe it was a in-camera report, I believe two or three months ago.”
VandeGraaf said this issue faces police services across Ontario, and noted that he provides this information each year at council during its budget deliberations.
“We have another in-camera report today,” he said.
“It will be exhaustive and it will be in camera, and the board can decide, based on current legislation, what it feels is appropriate to release publicly.”
“Exhaustive” is not what is required for public information, Graham said – “no names, no medical reasons, just a general update to the public and to the board.
“I think it’s incumbent on our board, in closed session, to have a more in-dept analysis and update of the staffing issues.
“I’ll be frank: there’s numerous times we actually don’t know where our staffing levels are so, in closed session, I will be asking for more updates.”
As for reporting to the public, he said, “it’s very simple – X amount are working and X amount are off on long-term leave or whatever.”
Asked for a definition of “off” in relation to staffing, Graham said it would pertain to workers on workers’ compensation or long-term disability as oppose to on vacation or similar time-off designations.
The board agreed to a directive to the chief to report back to the board next meeting regarding some information publicly in open session in regard to staffing levels, and a more detailed report for closed session. It also agreed to “dealing with the request from Mr. Fisher whether there are HR and FOI implications involved in his report.”
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
