TIMMINS - Training changes are coming for local police officers.
In 2024, the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA) replaced the Police Services Act, and it means new training guidelines. The Timmins Police Service is looking into what it will mean for their officers.
At Thursday's Timmins Police Services Board meeting, chief Sydney Lecky said the updates will have a cost.
“We’re going through right now just to determine the impact it will have on the service,” said Lecky. “It will have some impacts on us down the road.”
He added that they are still going over the new regulations, and the costs and specific impacts are unknown at this time.
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An example of the changes that will be required going forward is that every police officer will have to complete a seven-hour mental health crisis training annually.
“Ninety officers times seven hours, an eight-hour day when you factor in lunch, that’s a significant impact on boots on the ground,” he said.
As the details are worked out, that information will be communicated to the board, said Lecky.
“We will try to get a better understanding of that,” he said.