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Amherstburg meeting with Essex to discuss police options

The Town of Amherstburg plans on meeting with the Town of Essex to sit down and discuss policing options.

Amherstburg has approached all municipalities in Windsor-Essex county about regionalizing its police force.

"You know it could be Amherstburg-Windsor, it could be Amherstburg-Essex, it could be everybody. Until the process moves on a little bit it's hard to say at this point, but since Essex has stepped forward and said they would talk to us, I guess we'll sit down, and you know, see what they think they would need," Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo said.

"It's very early on as far as these things go. So the first thing we have to do is sit down and talk about what it might look like."

The Town of Essex switched from a local police force to the OPP in 2009.

Essex Mayor Ron McDermott said that move has saved the town about $1 million a year.

"We have to see what [Amherstburg] has to offer. Are we interested in hearing anything that will help save money, not only policing but anything, any kind of joined services? We'd be interested," McDermott said.

DiCarlo said Kingsville and Tecumseh have indicated they are not interested in discussing a regional police service.

Windsor, OPP option being tabled

Amherstburg is attempting to cut down costs and lower the town's debt.

The Amherstburg Police Service employs 31 officers and three civilian employees.

It costs the town $5.7 million a year.