
Owen Sound and West Grey won’t be proceeding with any further discussions about a potential joint police service.
Councils in both municipalities passed motions at meetings this week cancelling a project to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of joint-policing between Owen Sound and West Grey.
The partnership talks were halted because the West Grey Police Association objected to any potential amalgamation of the two police services.
“Our membership by way of the association, wishes to inform you that we show no interest in continuing talks between the City of Owen Sound and the Municipality of West Grey in regards to the supplied project charter of policing services,” a letter dated June 4 from West Grey Police Association President Ben Meyer says.
Last month, Owen Sound City Manager Tim Simmonds told councillors a draft project charter had been drawn up for a potential police partnership. The terms of the charter weren’t shared, but a report from Simmonds says it would focus on “exploring partnership opportunities between Owen Sound and West Grey Police Services.”
West Grey Police’s membership wasn’t interested.
“In addition to internal project team meetings, the police chiefs met with their respective associations to present the project and seek endorsement,” Simmonds says in a report to Owen Sound Council. “The West Grey Police Association has recently confirmed that it does not wish to move forward.”
Owen Sound council received a report outlining the end of joint policing talks during Monday’s meeting.
West Grey council received an update Tuesday. Their council also passed a motion to permit its police chief to continue to chat with Owen Sound’s chief to explore efficiencies, where possible.
“Right from the get go when we first discussed about amalgamating or doing some discussions with Owen Sound, I couldn’t see how it could really work,” says West Grey Coun. Doug Hutchinson. “But I do believe that if there is a way of having cost savings through them, then that is great.”