Could the OPP take over policing in Smiths Falls?

With the town facing budget pressures, a Smiths Falls councillor wants to explore other policing options for the municipality. CTV’s Peter Szperling reports.

The town of Smiths Falls is the last municipality in Lanark County to have its own police service, but one councillor is looking to see if there are other options.

A motion brought before a recent council meeting is directing staff to “provide a written report to council detailing the process the Town would following to carry out a review of different policing options.”

According to the motion, “the town is facing unprecedented inflationary cost increases to its overall capital and operational expenditures.”

Coun. Peter McKenna tells CTV News Ottawa that policing is the single largest item in the town’s budget.

“We have a very good police service. So, we have an obligation as council at budget time and throughout the year to find, is this the most efficient and effective way to deliver these services?” McKenna said.

According to the motion, the cost per capita to deliver the current Smiths Falls Police Service is estimated to be $675 in 2026. The cost per capita for delivering Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) services to more than 300 municipalities is estimated to be $362 in 2025.

“The OPP brings a lot of cost effectiveness and economy of scale to the municipality,” says CTV’s Public Safety Analyst Chris Lewis. “It’s just about cost effectiveness.”

Lewis says Perth and Carleton Place switched to having OPP provide policing services years ago.

“Typically, when this occurs, it’s the same officers patrolling the community wearing a different uniform and driving different cars.”

Smiths Falls staff are asked to provide the report by the end of June.

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