P.E.I. police services will undergo major review

For the first time in 40 years, all police services across Prince Edward Island will undergo a major review.

Premier Wade MacLauchlan says the goal of the review is to have better cooperation of agencies and greater safety for Islanders.

"Policing is a priority for all levels of government and we work collaboratively with the RCMP, municipal forces and our province's other emergency response agencies to effectively provide this essential public service," said MacLauchlan in a news release.

"This review will assist us in determining the future direction of policing and create opportunities for closer collaboration and coordination."

The province has set aside $150,000 to conduct the review and requests for proposals will be going out shortly.

Part of the review will include consultations with law enforcement, emergency response partners, communities and Islanders.

It will alsolook at viable and effective models for policing services and effective delivery of policing functions by different partners.

13police service stations in P.E.I.

Three Island communities, Charlottetown, Kensington, and Summerside provide their own municipal police services while other Island municipalities have agreements with the RCMP.

First Nations, Confederation Bridge, and the University of Prince Edward Island have their own police officers.

There are 13 police service stations across the Island.

"All police agencies here in PEI work very closely together and assist each other when called upon," said Kensington Police Chief Lewie Sutherland in the news release.

As president of the PEI Association of Chiefs of Police, Sutherland added the landmark policing review should lead to a better model of policing for for all Islanders.

The last review was the Grosman Report in 1974. There have been reviews of individual departments since that report.