The Municipality of Chatham-Kent applied to the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services under section 40 of the Police Services Act for consent to abolish the municipal police services of Chatham, Tilbury, Wallaceburg, and Dresden.
This abolition was proposed to establish a single new Chatham-Kent Police Service following the amalgamation of 22 communities into a single-tier municipality.
The Commission reviewed the comprehensive proposal developed by a Policing Task Force, which included detailed plans for staffing, facilities, communications, equipment, and budget.
The Commission found that the proposed arrangement would provide adequate and effective police services, noting that all existing municipal officers and civilian staff would be offered employment with the new service, thereby satisfying severance requirements.
The Commission granted consent to the abolition, effective in two phases, subject to the submission of a final report on implementation details.