If police service is good, what does it matter where it's based?

Some people are never satisfied with what they have, but the reality is changing things might not be an improvement.

Take the example of policing. There are some who would say they are not properly served, when there really isn't a lot of practical room for improvement.

Like any service, we all have demands to make of our police.

We want them to make sure our homes are safe, and if they are violated, we want officers on the scene instantly, and we want those responsible to be apprehended and put in custody within the hour, if not sooner. And if everything is going fine, we don't want to see police because that would be an intrusion in our private lives. And we certainly don't want to see a police officer pointing at us when we're driving, especially if we're speeding.

So we expect a sort of tight-rope walk from our police, and some of us never seem to be completely satisfied.

They can't be everywhere at once. It takes time to respond for a call from service, and when there are multiple calls, they have to set certain priorities.

Different police outlets serve different areas, and we sometimes hear calls for change. King Township is served by York Regional Police, and its residents seem satisfied with what they have. True, a more visible police presence in the township might be desirable, but they have only finite resources which must be spread out as needed

The Town of New Tecumseth has been served for some time by OPP, sharing a detachment with Adjala and Essa Townships, but there is now a push to have the town go it alone.

Town council last week was told that a stand-alone OPP service would come with a price tag, to the tune of about $666,000 more per year than what is being paid now. And there is also the possibility of a reduced level of service.

A more pertinent question is, does anyone really care? Is the average person in need of a police officer really interested in where that cop is dispatched from?

If they call for police, they want to see a cruiser with an officer at the ready fast. They don't stop and think if that person has a colleague currently answering a call in another municipality. They probably don't give a lot of thought to how much they pay for policing in their taxes; not at a time of need.

There are some who would like to see changes to the way police services are delivered, and they probably have good reasons. There are others who would oppose such change, probably for reasons that are just as good.

But the vast majority of people just want a police service that's there when they need or want it.

And as is so often the case, the real issue is what's best for the majority?