Feb. 24, 2021 – You can expect to see police officers wearing a new uniform in Shelburne.
After more than 140 years serving the community, Shelburne Police Service (SPS) will disband and transition over to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) at noon on Thursday.
“The OPP will provide policing services from the OPP Dufferin Detachment located at 506312 Highway 89 in Mono,” said Sgt. Iryna Nebogatova, community services and Media Relations Coordinator.
The Ontario Civilian Police Commission’s approved the SPS’s termination on Dec. 16, 2020, which was a necessary step to transfer to OPP services. Town council had approved the decision in July, noting the move is expected to save the town more than $5 million over the next 10 years.
This follows a Dufferin County trend, where the OPP took over policing duties from Orangeville Police Services (OPS) in October. The OPS had been in existence since 1864, with the SPS starting a decade and a half later in 1879. Grand Valley and Caledon are both policed by the OPP as well.
Officers with SPS, who applied to be kept on, will continue to protect and serve the community through the OPP.
“100 per cent of the SPS uniform and civilian applicants who received an offer of employment with the OPP accepted,” said Nebogatova. “An experienced police officer class will commence their training at the provincial academy on Feb. 22 and conclude on March 5.”
The Dufferin detachment will provide coverage of calls for service during an initial two-week transition period under detachment commander Insp. Terry Ward.
The former SPS police headquarters will not be used as an OPP detachment. The Banner contacted the Town to inquire about the future of the building but has yet to receive a response.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2021.
Print this page
