Even though the Windsor Police Services Board has approved the hiring of 24 new officers for the downtown, it will be some time before they're in service.
Chief Al Frederick says the process to bring on new officers is a complex one and takes time.
He tells AM800 News they've already begun the process of recruiting and it's a full time job.
"We all recruit, but we can only take in the applicants that come to our door and we have tons of initiatives attempting to attract new and different people that did not see policing as a potential career path and those are the ones we're after," says Frederick.
He points out there are limits of how many officers can be trained at the Ontario Police College.
"Each time we request a certain amount of officers and we get the old standard 12 positions and it's because they're serving all services in Ontario and depending on our size, it's a ratio. Bigger cities would get more spots."
Frederick adds even without the additional officers they're re-allocating personnel to the core area.
"There's considerable resources there as we speak, so no it's not like we have to wait for anything to occur in regard ot that hiring, but it's a bit of a shell game right now but we're putting our resources where they're needed and that's downtown."
The new officers are included in the new Windsor Police Service budget, which the police board approved Thursday at $89,292,971.
That is a 6.4 per cent increase, and it still must be approved by city council in the new year.
Chief Frederick expects the first 12 officers will be "boots on the ground" in the middle of 2019.
He says the second 12 officers could be sworn in late in 2019 or early 2020.