United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) Council wants more information before acting on a motion adopted by Clarence-Rockland City Council requesting the UCPR examine the feasibility of having police services administered at the regional level.

The resolution adopted by Clarence-Rockland Council on December 10, 2025, states greater savings and organizational efficiency could be achieved by having Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) services administered by the UCPR rather than the current system where it is administered by individual municipalities and the Hawkesbury and Russell County OPP Detachment boards.  

Alfred and Plantagenet Township Council has also endorsed the Clarence-Rockland recommendation.

At the Wednesday, January 28 UCPR Council meeting, Russell Township Mayor Mike Tarnowski said he supports increased collaboration but thinks it would negatively impact Russell Township. He requested the matter be deferred and also noted Alfred and Plantagenet Mayor Yves Laviolette and The Nation Mayor Francis Brière were not present at the meeting to offer their thoughts on the Clarence-Rockland recommendation.

Champlain Township Mayor Normand Riopel thought the recommendation was too hurried. He said he would like for Champlain Council to discuss it first as he believes any changes to how policing is managed would have effects on the municipality.

Hawkesbury Mayor Robert Lefebvre said he understands the logic behind the idea and believes there are advantages to having some services at the regional level. However, he said more discussion is needed, along with a better understanding of what is being proposed.

Casselman Mayor Geneviève Lajoie said she wanted more information to make a more informed decision. She also wondered if how policing is administered could be included in a review of service delivery and coordination which is already in progress.  

“The motion that was sent in was to start a conversation,” said Warden Mario Zanth, who is also Mayor of Clarence-Rockland.

A motion to defer any decision on the recommendation for a feasibility study on administering policing at the UCPR level was adopted.