Inspector Marc Hemmerick
Some technical issues with recent legislation regarding grant funding for local police have required some creativity from the Town of Renfrew.
Town Council has agreed to a memorandum of understanding to transfer assets from three grants obtained by the former Renfrew Police Services Board into the care of the local OPP detachment through the Crown.
The move is something Town Clerk Carolyn Errett explains is required after provincial legislation disbanded the board back in April.
Transfer Payment Ontario is defaulting the funds back to municipalities that signed off on police grants under the old Police Board system instead of sending them to the new O.P.P. Detachment Board.
Errett says funding and assets affected have covered the Renfrew and Area Connection Centre, the Situation Table, and most notably equipment purchased under the Preventing Auto Thefts grant, which would create problems for the town because the O.P.P. requires them to remain classified.
Acting Commander for the Renfrew O.P.P. Detachment, Inspector Marc Hemmerick, assures council that this problem is far more than a local issue.
The grants for the Connection Centre and the Situation Table will wrap up within the next six months, while the PAT grant will continue into 2026. Until then, Errett says talks between the town and the new O.P.P. Detachment Board continue.
Hemmerick notes that the Detachment Board and its chair are willing to provide the town with a financial audit of any grants that they would eventually take over.
Grant funding that would have been sent to the Renfrew Police Services Board will be subject to the auditing done on the town’s finances until responsibility is handed over to the police.
(written by Kasey Egan)
