The Ontario Provincial Police say officers patrolling the Town of Essex will no longer start their shifts at the OPP Community Safety Office.
The change is expected to take place on January 31.
A release from the OPP said the change is being made to "maximize OPP resources and operational efficiency." It said the OPP would continue to conduct regular patrols and maintain "a significant local presence".
The detachment commander for the OPP Essex County Detachment, Glenn Miller, insisted the office will not close.
"This change will not affect or reduce frontline policing services in the Town of Essex in any way," said Miller. "The OPP will continue to exceed adequacy and effectiveness standards for policing in all Essex County communities."
Miller told BlackburnNews.com the OPP have other satellite offices across the county, and the location at 31 Gosfield Townline West is a rarity because officers did start their shift there. That is not the case at other sites.
He would not say how many officers would be impacted.
The public can still go to the Community Safety Office or call 1-888-310-1122 for non-emergency requests.
