Sarnia's police chief hopes the service isn't left hanging by the province.
Phil Nelson says just before Christmas, they were notified by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services that its Community Policing Partnership grant will cease April 1.
"Back around 1999 we entered into the agreement," says Nelson. "At that time the grant, when you applied for it, would cover off the half salaries of five officers."
Like many other police services in Ontario, Nelson says they believed it was a continuous $150,000 grant.
"By today's standards, the $150,000 would probably be the half salaries of three constables or probably the equivalent to the salary of a first class constable and benefits," he says.
Nelson says a new Policing Effectiveness and Modernization (POM) grant will be implemented in its place.
"We'll have to wait and see when we apply what we receive back and if we're going to have to adjust our budget somehow," he says.
Nelson says the grant money has always been used to keep the Community Oriented Police Problem Solving (COPPS) Unit going.
Their mandate is to address community related problems like domestic violence follow-up, ensuring people released from court or the police station are complying with release conditions, locating and arresting people on outstanding warrants, addressing traffic related concerns and any other uniform or plainclothes duties assigned to them.
Nelson says the unit has been very beneficial in freeing up front line officers.
