Windsor looking to end current policing agreement with Amherstburg

Windsor no longer wants to provide policing services in Amherstburg under the current agreement, according to town mayor Michael Prue.

Both municipalities signed a 20-year agreement that started in January of 2019. Back then, officials estimated it would save Amherstburg $500,000 each year and Windsor taxpayers upwards of $200,000 annually.

The cost of providing the service in Amherstburg appears to be behind the city's decision, however the agreement would continue for another five years.

Prue said Amherstburg council will discuss its options on Monday night.

"One of the options is to hope that they change their mind," said Prue.

The other options would be to ask LaSalle if they'd be interested, contact the OPP to see how much they would charge to provide policing or restart Amherstburg's own service.

Prue said he's also unsure if Amherstburg would pay more for Windsor's policing services because that cost already increased nine per cent this year.

CBC News reached out to Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens and the Windsor Police Services Board. Both have not commented on the move to end the deal with Amherstburg.

Back in 2018, Former Amherstburg councillor Jason Lavigne voted against allowing Windsor police to take over law enforcement in the town.

From the beginning, Lavigne questioned the money Amherstburg residents were told they would save.

"I knew it was all smoke and mirrors," said Lavigne. "We took an essential service that's a large component of our tax dollars and we essentially gave control to a municipality that has no reason to protect us or our tax dollars in Amherstburg."

"It was a bad, bad decision all the way around," he added.

Now, Lavigne said he's worried about how much more it will cost to find a new policing option and possibly restarting the town's own service.