Sarnia Coun. Dennis’s OPP motion withdrawn in heated moment during council meeting

Tempers flared at Sarnia council on Monday after Coun. Dennis withdrew his motion to explore alternate policing options. CTV’s Bryan Bicknell explains.

A proposal by Sarnia Coun. Bill Dennis to consider replacing the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was over before it even started Monday.

In a heated moment, Dennis pulled his controversial motion before it hit the council floor for discussion.

The tension bubbled up during a delegation from Sarnia Police Association representative Karen Kinart, who appealed to local sentiment, in defence of maintaining the SPS.

“The possibility of losing our local police force is not just a threat to our jobs, it’s a threat to the very heart of our community. Dedicated employees who spend their lives serving Sarnia could find themselves without work, without recognition of their experience, and without a place within the city that they love,” Kinart told councillors.

Her appearance was in response to Dennis’s motion to have city staff examine alternate policing models, including a possible shift to the provincial force. It’s a move that was considered in 2010 and ultimately turned down because of the $10 million cost at that time, recalled Mayor Mike Bradley.

“It was three or four years of pure disruption with no end point that was going to be good for the people of Sarnia. And the reason why at the end we decided to keep, and we did the right thing, was simply we could not afford to go to the OPP,” Bradley said.

From that point, the meeting took a turn. Dennis withdrew his motion during a heated moment between himself and Bradley.

“Here’s the deal, I’m going to withdraw my motion. The whole purpose of putting this motion in the first place…” Dennis began.

“You are on the record withdrawing your motion. That means this discussion is over,” replied Bradley.

“Why are you in such a rush Mike? Happy hour doesn’t start for another three hours,” retorted Dennis.

At that point, Coun. Chrissy McRoberts interjected with a point of order.

Bradley thanked the delegation, and council moved on.

Dennis’s proposal was in response to the Sarnia Police Service Board issuing legal notice after Bradley used strong mayor powers to axe funding to begin work on a new police headquarters with an estimated price-tag of $91 million.

But regardless of how it was settled, Police Chief Derek Davis tells CTV News it’s a relief to put the OPP question to rest.

“It does upset a lot of areas. In the scope of things, I can only use the metaphor doing a fine surgery with a sledgehammer. To me, in my opinion, it seemed excessive for the concerns that were raised,” said Davis.