The Windsor Police Association is advocating for mandatory minimum staffing levels on the front lines following a recent patrol shift that saw a decrease in the number of officers on duty, which they deem as alarming. According to Kent Rice, the President of the Windsor Police Association, there were only 13 front-line officers working on a shift during a weekend in October, a level he considers to be risky.
Rice emphasized that such low staffing levels not only endanger the safety of individuals but also impact response times and overall community well-being. He urged the police administration and board to implement mandatory minimums for front-line officers, citing that similar incidents have occurred in the past.
While the Windsor Police Service and the Windsor Police Services Board did not provide comments in response to CBC’s request, during a special council meeting, police board chair Jo-Anne Gignac expressed concerns about escalating policing costs. She highlighted that enforcing mandatory minimums could lead to additional expenses, such as increased overtime payments or the need to hire more officers.
The Police Association of Ontario (PAO) noted that formal mandatory policing minimums are not widespread across the province, but President Mark Baxter observed a growing trend of local associations advocating for such standards. Baxter explained that these calls for minimum staffing levels often stem from concerns about resource allocation within police services.
Staffing shortages are not unique to Windsor but are a nationwide issue in Canada. Rice attributed some of the staffing challenges to factors like parental leave, sick days, injuries, training requirements, and recruitment difficulties. The PAO emphasized that the lack of provincial standards for police staffing further complicates the situation, with each local police service determining its own resource allocation strategies.
Few police services in Ontario, such as the Niagara Regional Police Service and the London Police Service, have established mandatory minimum staffing levels to ensure adequate coverage and safety. In London, Sgt. Gareth Harris highlighted the importance of these standards in addressing deficiencies on the front lines and managing the high volume of service calls.
Rice pointed out discrepancies in minimum staffing requirements between different policing jurisdictions, highlighting the need for consistent standards. He emphasized the importance of setting mandatory requirements for officers responding to calls, similar to those in place for the police communication center. Additionally, Rice noted variations in minimum staffing levels in areas like Amherstburg, which Windsor began policing in 2019.
