More cops may come Essa's way
By Richard Blanchard

Essa council has approved a proposal which will see the local detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police increase its numbers by 15 officers over the next five years.

The township passed the bylaw authorizing the increase at last week's council meeting. Approval will also be needed from Adjala-Tosorontio and New Tecumseth for the staffing increase.

Councils from the three municipalities met with representatives of the OPP to discuss the increase last spring.

The Nottawasaga Police Board recommended that three new constables be hired each year over the next five years, beginning in 2008, which will mean that the cost of providing OPP service for the area will rise by near $2,000,000. The hiring of an additional sergeant has also been requested.

The number of police officers at the detachment would increase to 63 by 2012, along with six sergeants and .8 of an inspector.

Detachment commander Dave Farrar said in May that the Nottawasaga detachment had one of the highest police officer to resident ratios in the province.

"We haven't seen an increase in the number of officers since 1993 though we have seen an increase in population since then. Just look at the increase in traffic flows," said township mayor Dave Guergis.

"The number one complaint that council hears about in terms of policing is traffic. The increase in officers will alleviate it," he said.

Guergis said that he hoped that the additional officers will help stem any surges in crime in the area.

As for the additional cost, the mayor admitted that it was an extremely large amount. "I think that we can live with it in our budget," he said