Downtown Oshawa security comes at a cost, and it’s a growing one.
But it’s a cost that Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce CEO Jason King seems to understand and supports.
And the $2.467-million annual bill for the corporate security firm Logixx Security, which the city pays to staff local city buildings and patrol the downtown from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., is reinforced by the many incidents the firm has handled.
A breakdown of the work done by the firm shows that it had 5,992 interactions in 2022, up from 5,238 in 2021 and 5,035 in 2020.
The numbers were actually much lower pre-pandemic, when security interactions in and around city facilities were as low as 1,166 in 2016.
Many of the Logixx interactions — in fact, more than 2,300 — involve escorting an individual off of city property, while over 500 involve dealing with garbage or debris. There were 450 incidents of medical intoxication/drug use during 2022, or more than one a day.
Three of the top five locations for Logixx interactions took part in the city’s large downtown above-ground parking facilities. The McLaughlin Bandshell (Memorial Park) and city hall were the other two major targets, with the McLaughlin branch of the Oshawa Public Library, the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Lakeview Park, the John Street Bridge and Brick Valley Park rounding out the top 10.
For King, the security service seems to be “the best way to be handling our downtown concerns.”
He said it’s important that for businesses to succeed, “people have to feel comfortable downtown. We want to invite people downtown and have them feel safe.”
That’s been the argument in having corporate security over the past half-dozen years or so in Oshawa, to help divert the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) toward managing more high-profile criminal activity.
The job of corporate security is to be “deescalators,” according to the chair of the safety and facilities services committee, Reg. Coun. Brian Nicholson.
He said the increasing in contacts over the last six years can be explained by the number of people needing social services coming to Oshawa.
“We have communities in Durham and beyond Durham that are coming to Oshawa, and therefore the density in problems in Durham is increasing,” said Nicholson.
And he said there would be 90 security cameras added to the downtown area as part of a $250,000 investment in the capital budget.
What’s happening in Oshawa is having an influence on Oshawa’s Durham neighbours as well, with the city getting a $500,000 contribution to its corporate security budget at a May 10 regional committee of the whole meeting.
Backed by a passionate plea from Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter for support at that meeting, 25 members of Durham council agreed to support Oshawa.
The mayor made the case that Oshawa’s problems of homelessness, drug addition, mental health issues and assorted other problems were not the city’s alone and needed regional help.
Carter said that over a 13-month period, there were over 7,000 incidents dealt with in Oshawa by corporate security, including over 5,200 between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. He also made the case that “1,117 calls were diverted from Durham Regional Police,” indicating that corporate security was helping to subsidize police operations. Carter did say 281 calls were made to the DRPS by corporate security.
“I’m asking the Region to help us tonight, because this vulnerable population needs the help tonight,” said Carter. Oshawa regional councillors Brian Nicholson, Rick Kerr, Bob Chapman and John Neal also requested regional support at the May 10 meeting.
Ajax Reg. Coun. Marilyn Crawford said she understands the needs of Oshawa for corporate security.
“A few years ago, I wouldn’t have understood this issue. Our situation (in Ajax) isn’t nearly as severe as Oshawa. I feel we’re a year or two from the same situation as Oshawa, so I support Mayor Carter,” said Crawford.
Pickering Reg. Coun. Maurice Brenner said, “It’s very touching and very sad what’s happening in Oshawa. We need collectively to support the city of Oshawa. It’s only a matter of time … before other municipalities such as the city of Pickering will be experiencing (difficult issues),” he said.
In past years, regional staff had recommended against support by regional council for Oshawa’s request. But this year, regional council, by a vote of 25-2, agreed to support Oshawa for up to 50 per cent, or $500,000, of Oshawa’s service.
Indeed, Oshawa added $893,000 to its budget in 2023 for a corporate security-dedicated downtown patrol. That’s on top of the $1,534,500 the city spends already on corporate security services on the contract with Logixx.
Members of the Logixx team can be seen in vehicles, at city facilities and patrolling in the downtown area.