Consider This (https://consider-this.ca/tag/police/)
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A new Community Services and Police Act came into effect on April 1. The irony of the date did not get past Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf. It was not an April Fool’s joke. The new legislation significantly overhauls how police are regulated. The last time this occurred was in 1990. Continue Reading →
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The Port Hope police recently released its two-year strategic plan. While the title sounds pretty lofty, there are many nuts and bolts in it. In this interview, Chief Tim Farquharson will address critical issues facing the community. He will discuss the hiring of three new officers and the expansion of the auxiliary force in the hopes of increasing police presence. But that is not all. Continue Reading →
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At a recent Cobourg council meeting, a debate ignited over hiring additional police officers. This led to a tense discussion about public safety and the 2024 budget. With community safety a hot topic in the council chambers and on the street, it is creating a lot of strong emotions in and outside Victoria Hall. In this interview, you will hear from Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf. Since he arrived in 2014, the number of officers has not changed. Continue Reading →
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Crime in Cobourg is on the increase. Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf says that is true everywhere. An analysis of recent statistics shows calls for service are up. There were 14 assault charges laid in the past two months. Two of those involved officers being assaulted. Continue Reading →
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Calls for service are down. Foot patrols are also down. Vehicle patrols are also down. Cannabis charges are up. Violent crimes, such as assaults, are up by 80 percent. Continue Reading →
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Earlier this week, Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf presented his annual report for the past year to town council. Many statistics were up. The number of calls, crime rate, reported crimes, mental health calls, drug poisonings, overdoses, break, and enters all increased. The number of complaints against police was down, as were the times when officers used force. But things have changed in other ways. Continue Reading →
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On March 1, Port Hope got a new police chief. Tim Farquharson arrived from Peterborough, where he has spent 36 years in policing. In this interview, the chief will talk about his career as a young constable in Lakefield until he stepped down as deputy chief for the Peterborough Police. You will listen to his thoughts on the budget and other initiatives. Plus, he will give his plans for his first 100 days. Continue Reading →
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A strongly worded letter from the Cobourg Police Services Board chair Ron Kerr was sent to the town council. It chided Mayor Lucas Cleveland and Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander for misleading the public regarding a county-wide police study. The county approved $75,000 to update a 2007 study for a Northumberland police force. In today’s interview, Ron Kerr will explain the letter’s purpose and why he thinks both mayors were out of line. For him and the police board, the answer was simple: ask us. Continue Reading →
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Ths show:
The full interview with bonus material
This past week, Cobourg council passed its 2023 budget. The only person to vote against it was Mayor Lucas Cleveland. In this interview, you are going to hear Cleveland explain his opposition. There were some tense moments during the meeting, and several important things happened. He will talk about the debate, his statement on policing, the library, and his position on homelessness. Continue Reading →
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When municipal budgets get tight, politicians look for savings. One of their favourite targets is policing. This is due to the enormous costs associated with providing this service. Most of the items in a police budget are fixed and are hard to cut. For decades, efforts to cut costs by amalgamating local police were undertaken. Continue Reading →
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