Cobourg Police Service’s (“CPS”) Chief Paul VandeGraaf issues his first warning regarding the potential impacts to the CPS’ ability to provide adequate and effective policing in 2026 should recent
proposals by Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland on the CPS budget be adopted.
“I am gravely concerned that if adopted, the risks to Cobourg cannot be understated,” VandeGraaf warned.
The proposed budget proposals advanced by Mayor Cleveland do not sufficiently illustrate how the Mayor is reaching into CPS’ operational reserves to fund core obligations.
The Chief added: “they also remove any flexibility I have as Chief, to fund normal operational needs that arise if major incidents or investigations require our response.”
Simple examples of service reductions (NOT ELIMINATION) could include:
• Ability to staff Directed Patrols as in the previous three summers to address the sudden and unexpected crime and social disorder concerns raised by community members.
• Deploy crime abatement strategies such as bail compliance projects, targeted enforcement of high risk repeat offenders.
• Altered policing engagement at community events that may include a co-pay model.
Chief Vandegraaf has articulated these realities to the Cobourg Police Services Board (“CPSB”) and the Cobourg Police Association.
“I am gratified to have the support of both in attempting to persuade Cobourg Town Council to reject these proposals.”
As Chief of Police, Chief VandeGraaf may be directed by the CPSB to participate in and act as the lead witness in any appeals processes to the Inspectorate of Policing of Ontario, and any arbitration or conciliation applications to oppose the service reductions that would inevitably occur if Mayor Cleveland’s budget were implemented.
“I regret sincerely, that valuable time and resources that should be dedicated to investigating and apprehending criminals, may need to be re-directed to supporting CPS standing before these review processes,” Chief VandeGraaf stated.
“This is not how I imagined I would be potentially spending the final months of my 35-year career. But I will vigorously defend public safety in Cobourg and the well-being of all CPS personnel until my final shift.”
