COBOURG (July 22, 2022) – This month, the Cobourg Police Services Board (CPSB) begins sharing monthly meeting recaps to highlight and inform the public about the Board’s activities and priorities. The community can access CPSB meeting minutes and agendas online through eScribe, the Town of Cobourg public meeting website.
“Sharing monthly updates with the public is one way we can inform the community on the activities and decisions of the Board as we continue to provide support, strategic direction, and governance to the Cobourg Police Service.” – Chair Dean Pepper, Cobourg Police Services Board
The CPSB held their July meeting on Tuesday, July 16th, 2022. Please see the meeting highlights below:
The board meeting began with a moment of appreciation from Chair Dean Pepper on behalf of the Board, thanking the Cobourg Police Service (CPS) members for their professionalism and dedication to the community after June saw two tragic calls in the Town of Cobourg. The Board Chair also sent his condolences to the friends and family who lost a loved one in June. These sentiments were echoed by Chief VandeGraaf in the Chief’s report later in the meeting.
The Board welcomed CPS’s newest hire. Experienced officer, Constable Ryan Rinneard. Constable Rinneard joins CPS from Nishnawabe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) with four years of experience policing indigenous communities within their jurisdiction. Before joining NAPS, Ryan worked at the TTC and was a Hockey Instructor at the Canlan Hockey School.
The service is currently in the hiring process for a new recruit and there is a posting out to fill the role of Special Constable.
The operations report provided an overview of the Service’s activity in May. The report outlined the increase in calls for service, up 460 calls for the same time period of January to May compared to last year. From January to May 2022 compared to 2021, the Service has seen an increase in mental health calls and a decrease in domestic-related incidents (2022: 88 2021: 109). Of these domestic-related incidents, there has been an increase in the number of violent domestic-related incidents (January to May).
Between May 1st and May 31st, 2022, the CPS responded to ten calls related to suspected drug poisoning. Compared to 2021 (7) for the same period for an increase of 43%.
Community Safety Innovation Fund Update
The CPSB received the first report on the Community Safety Innovation Fund (CSIF). Six proposals from local community agencies were received by the application closing date on June 30, 2022. The overall goal of the CSIF is to support collaborative projects that deliver efficient, effective, and sustainable community safety solutions that will benefit the residents and businesses of the Town of Cobourg. A committee will be struck to review the submission and bring recommendations to the Board at the August meeting.
Financial Update
A financial update was provided by Chief Administrative Officer, Roger Ramkissoon, highlighting key elements, including the reason for the 1,300 hours of overtime generally due to staff shortages (coverage for training and holidays) and used to meet minimum staffing obligations for frontline officers.
In the meeting, the Board assigned a Board Finance Committee to start the budget planning process in August.
Request for Proposal – Building Feasibility Study
As a final action of the meeting, the CBPSB moved to open for RFP on a feasibility study for a new building. After receiving a report in the closed session, the Board passed a motion to move forward with the RFP process to garner a company to conduct a needs analysis study for a new police station.
The CPSB meetings take place on the third Tuesday of every month, starting at 9:00 a.m. at Venture 13 (739 D’Arcy Street, Cobourg), CPS Business Center. Meeting minutes and agendas can be accessed online through eScribe, the Town of Cobourg public meeting website.