Review of policing to support enhanced coordination, collaboration

A comprehensive review of the province’s police services will lead to better cooperation of agencies and greater safety for Islanders.

“Policing is a priority for all levels of government and we work collaboratively with the RCMP, municipal forces and our province’s other emergency response agencies to effectively provide this essential public service,” Premier and Justice and Public Safety Minister Wade MacLauchlan said. “This review will assist us in determining the future direction of policing and create opportunities for closer collaboration and coordination.”

Police services on Prince Edward Island have a long-standing reputation for excellence and professionalism. Law enforcement agencies across Canada and around the world are experiencing rising costs as their service calls increase along with public expectations.

“All police agencies here in PEI work very closely together and assist each other when called upon,” said Kensington Police Chief Lewie Sutherland, who is the president of the PEI Association of Chiefs of Police. “We also can learn from one another, so this landmark policing review should lead to a better model of policing for our town’s residents and for all Islanders.”

This is the first province-wide review of police services in more than 40 years – the last such review was the Grosman Report on Policing in Prince Edward Island in 1974. Subsequent reviews on individual departments were conducted in 1977, 1991, 2005, 2009 and 2012.

The new review will examine:

• Consultations with law enforcement and emergency response partners, communities and Islanders;

• Viable and effective models for policing services;

• Ensuring a 24/7 emergency response capacity coupled with specialist resource access when required;

• The appropriate and effective delivery of policing functions by different partners; and

• Support the coordination of police and emergency response services, drawing strengths from each to enhance the delivery of critical services to the public

A Request for Proposals will be released shortly; $150,000 has been allocated for the review.

Charlottetown, Kensington, and Summerside provide their own municipal police services while other Island municipalities have agreements with the RCMP. First Nations, Confederation Bridge, and the University of Prince Edward Island have their own police officers. There are 13 police service stations across the Island.

Media Contact: Maureen Flanagan-LeClair

NT5