The closure of the Exeter office in 2020 saw police services centralized to this office in Clinton | Photo by B. Shakyaver
The closure of Exeter’s police station has not escaped the attention of the Municipality of South Huron – despite the closure happening nearly four years ago, Mayor George Finch is continuing to advocate for increased police presence in the community.
In a recent update at South Huron Council’s meeting on Tuesday, February 20, Mayor Finch shed some light on the ongoing conversations advocating for change.
Mayor Finch, alongside CAO Rebecca Msuya-Collison and Deputy Mayor Jim Dietrich, met with Inspector Younan from the Huron OPP on February 14th – reportedly, during the hour-long meeting, Mayor Finch expressed his dissatisfaction with the progress, revealing that certain directives from the OPP commissioner in 2020 were not effectively implemented within the OPP chain of command.
Mayor Finch underscored the role of Community Service Offices (CSOs) as vital resources, acting as a type of satellite office for policing operations in the community.
An item from the July 13th, 2020 South Huron Council agenda highlights correspondence from OPP Commissioner Carrique – in which the commissioner said that while he appreciated the Mayor’s concerns, “Huron County Detachment Commander, Inspector Rob Scott, continues to support and discuss the establishment of Community Policing Offices with community stakeholders in South Huron and North Huron/Wingham”. This document is anticipated to play a pivotal role in future discussions surrounding CSOs.
Despite the discussion at the time, no community service office has since opened – and the absence of police in the community was a void that Mayor Finch noted.
Mayor Finch reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for community safety, citing past efforts to challenge the closure of Exeter and Wingham Detachments. He reiterated his determination to pursue measures that ensure the well-being of residents and frontline officers alike – and he’s not letting go yet.
To further address these concerns, Mayor Finch has arranged a phone call with Commissioner Carrique on February 23rd to discuss potential next steps.
An update is expected at Council’s meeting on March 4th, at which time council may choose to formally address the issue through a letter to the Solicitor General.
Written by: B. Shakyaver