Ontario Protecting Communities by Enhancing Policing in Chatham-Kent and Essex County 

September 24, 2025

Over $1.6 million for Chatham-Kent Police Services and Essex County OPP to fight crime and keep people safe 

NEWS | September 22, 2025 

CHATHAM-KENT & ESSEX COUNTY — The Ontario government is investing more than $1.66 million to support local policing initiatives in Chatham-Kent and Essex County through the Community Safety and Policing Grant Program. This funding is part of Ontario’s $91 million investment to help protect families and communities across the province. 

  • Chatham-Kent Police Services Board is receiving $693,243.63 for its Community Connect Project, a dedicated effort from five officers to strengthen trust, communication, and collaboration with local communities. This project includes youth mentorship programs, culturally responsive outreach, neighbourhood forums, and the Fast Intervention Risk Specific Team (FIRST) strategy that brings together 26 community partners to address safety concerns in real time. 
  • Chatham-Kent Police Services Board will also receive $496,512.00 for Operation Crimewatch, a technology-driven initiative using advanced CCTV, analytics, and AI tools to combat human trafficking, retail and vehicle theft, and other priority crimes. The program will also deploy new software for translation, privacy compliance, and evidence handling to support police investigations and community transparency. 
  • Essex County OPP, serving municipalities including Tecumseh, Essex, Kingsville, Lakeshore, and Leamington, is receiving $473,089.00 for the Stronger Together Project. This initiative expands crisis response capacity, enhances officer training on addictions and mental health, strengthens youth and newcomer outreach, and bolsters traffic enforcement programs including RIDE checks and commercial vehicle safety. 

“Our government is proud to invest in projects that support our police and help keep people safe across Chatham-Kent and Essex County. These initiatives will build stronger partnerships between police and community, improve crisis response, and harness new tools to fight crime. By working together, we are making our communities safer and more resilient,” said, Trevor Jones, MPP for Chatham-Kent–Leamington. 

“By investing in the Stronger Together Project, our government is giving the Essex County OPP the tools to protect Ontario families, arrest criminals, and keep our roads and communities safe.” – Anthony Leardi, MPP for the riding of Essex. 

The local projects are among 127 funded across Ontario in 2025–26. Of these, 88 address local priorities, while 39 support provincial priorities such as gun and gang violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, mental health and addictions, hate-motivated crime, housing and homelessness, and retail theft. 

“Our government is delivering on our promise to protect Ontario and keep communities safe,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Through this funding, we are helping to build safer communities by ensuring Ontario’s police services have the resources they need to address local issues and improve the well-being of the people they serve.” 

The Community Safety and Policing Grant Program provides eligible police services, police services boards, and municipalities policed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) with funding to deploy frontline officers where and when they are needed most. 

QUICK FACTS 

  • The Chatham-Kent Police Services’ Community Connect Project involves 26 local partners in crime prevention, healthcare, housing, and education. 
  • The Essex County OPP serves more than 190,000 residents across 1,850 km² in both rural and urban communities. 
  • The Community Safety and Policing Grant will fund 127 projects across Ontario in 2025–26. 

Nammar Cristofari 

Executive Assistant 
Office of MPP Trevor Jones 

Chatham-Kent-Leamington 

Nammar.cristofari@pc.ola.org