The West Nipissing Police Services Board says it has gone to court to stop the takeover of local policing by the OPP.
In a news release, Board Chair Barry Bertrand says an application for Judicial Review in the Divisional Court in Sudbury seeks to have West Nipissing Municipal Council’s decision to seek alternative policing services from the OPP annulled.
The action was filed on Monday.
See: Police Board shut out of OPP takeover plans says NipissingWest Chairman
And: No legal requirement to consult says West Nipissing CAO to police board
"The Board has commenced this legal proceeding against Municipal Council because of its concerns about the seriously flawed and fundamentally unfair process that was adopted by Council in coming to this decision," Chair Barry Bertrand stated.
“The Board has an obligation to the community to have Council’s conduct reviewed by the Court. Council decided to rush the OPP costing process without consulting the Board and the Chief of Police, and without following the process recommended by both the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the OPP.”
The Board has also raised concerns regarding the motivations of certain council members and whether decisions were made in the best interest of the community.
