'We can be there in 20 minutes': Windsor bidding to provide Amherstburg police service
Mayor Drew Dilkens says the city can provide 'enhanced' services and save both communities money
Selecting Windsor to provide policing services to the town of Amherstburg would benefit both communities, says Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
The mayor confirmed council and the Windsor Police Services Board have entered a bid to police the nearby town, but declined to provide any details of the offer Monday night.
"The beauty for the residents of the Town of Amherstburg is the same officers patrolling the same streets as they are today," said Dilkens.
Windsor police will save the Town of Amherstburg a lot of money.- Mayor Drew Dilkens
He added council expects the OPP will most likely enter a bid as well, but said he was confident the city can offer a competitive bid.
"If they needed a bomb detection service, or a tactical team or if they needed canine, all of those things are right here in Windsor and we can be out there in 20 minutes or faster with lights and sirens," said Dilkens. "If they need that type of service from the OPP they may have to wait, if it's available, four hours, five hours, six hours for those teams to drive down from London or wherever else they're located."
The mayor said spreading the cost of policing across more people means residents in Windsor will face lower costs.
He pointed to Amherstburg's recent decision to have Windsor provide their police dispatch services at an estimated savings of about $800,000.
"Windsor police … will save the Town of Amherstburg a lot of money in the provision of that service and there's certainly a lot more money to be saved by providing policing services."