It's a big day for the future of policing in Amherstburg.
The Ontario Civilian Police Commission is holding public meetings to help determine if the Windsor Police Service can provide "adequate and effective" policing in Amherstburg.
The OCPC will take submissions from the public from 9am to 4:30pm and from 6pm to 9pm. The meetings will take place at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg.
The commission is reviewing Amherstburg's March 12 application to have the city cops patrol local streets. If approved, Windsor police cruisers would roll out to Amherstburg on January 1, 2019.
The town expects to save roughly $567,000 a year if it switches to WPS.
Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo says the town is waiting on the commission's decision.
"That is ultimately the big question because if the OCPC says they don't approve it, then we're done," says DiCarlo. "For the residents that still aren't happy with the decision, I don't want to say that we're going to dismiss that in any way but, from the OCPC themselves and from the Act, really the only thing at this stage is adequate and effective policing — not whether you're happy with council's decision in that respect."
DiCarlo says there is also one more council vote needed a finalized contract after the OCPC decision.
"We'll hear from them again and it'll be up to each individual member of council as to whether it changes their position or not."
As for the ongoing contract negotiations with the Windsor Police Service, DiCarlo is upbeat and positive.
"Essentially, everything that Amherstburg has said they needed in the contract to feel comfortable that our level of service was not reduced got in there," says DiCarlo. "At this stage, I think everything that we needed is there."
Earlier this year, council voted narrowly in favour of a 20-year deal with the Windsor Police Service to take over policing from the town's own local police force.