Source: Wallaceburg Courier Press (CN ON)
Pubdate: 22 Aug 2001
Website: http://www.wallaceburgcourierpress.com/
Address: 525 James St., Wallaceburg, Ont. N8A 2P1
Contact:  2002 Wallaceburg Courier Press
Fax: (519)627-0640
Author: Cheryl Heath

POLICING COSTS LIKELY TO SOAR

The Chatham-Kent Police Service could well beat its 2000 record, but it1s 
news members aren1t particularly pleased about.

As of July 31, 1,840 prisoners were housed within the soon-to-close 
Chatham-Kent jail. Only 2,934 prisoners were recorded in 2000.

Deputy Chief Jack Chambers, reporting to the Police Services Board at an 
Aug. 15 meeting held in Wallaceburg, says the numbers could be indicative 
of a number of factors including an increased emphasis on drug crackdowns. 
For instance, $2.9-million worth of marijuana was seized in 2000 whereas 
$5-million worth of marijuana has already been confiscated this year.

Police Chief John Kopinak says the figures are especially disconcerting 
considering the Municipality of Chatham-Kent will soon be without its own 
correctional facility. This change means police service members will be 
spending a lot more time on the road while transporting prisoners to and 
from London or Windsor.

Worse yet, says Kopinak, statistics indicate the number of Young Offenders 
sentenced to closed custody are on the rise, meaning members will wrack up 
even more expenses while travelling to Goderich1s correctional facility for 
young offenders.

The board has forwarded the statistics to Chatham-Kent council with the 
hope the Municipality will continue to seek alternatives to the jail 
closure slated for April.