Oshawa extends private downtown security contract with Logixx

Oshawa’s downtown security patrols will be extended after City Council voted to renew the contract with Logixx Security.

The City first hired a private security company to patrol the downtown in 2020 but community activists and some councillors did not approve of some of the tactics used by Cdn Protection in dealing with crime and vandalism in the city core, particularly in relation to their treatment of homeless people.

Last year the City chose a different tact, increasing patrols using existing by-law officers and contracting out security patrols to Logixx, with their contract beginning in June.

A reduction of “unlawful activities” incidents did not immediately occur and downtown business flooded City Hall with increased complaints and safety concerns regarding “vandalism, illegal drug use, loitering, and aggressive behavior,” prompting Council to increase Municipal Law Enforcement Officer staffing and bump up Logixx Security foot patrols “to ensure a consistent presence in the downtown.”

The scope of the patrols was also widened beyond the official downtown borders, with security patrolling as far north as Adelaide Avenue, as far east as Ritson Road, as far west as Park Road and south to Gibb Street/Olive Avenue.

Security costs in 2021 was just over $100,000, but the increased patrols have already rung up more than $193,000 to date in 2022. The option approved by Council will add another $660,000-plus to the budget, money that will be funded by the renumeration reserve, bringing the total cost of the project this year to $857,000.

The funds will cover two security guards with a vehicle per shift and one guard paired with an MLE officer per shift as well.

Council is also hopeful Durham Region will help with funding and have asked Durham to enter into a “memorandum of understanding” with the City for fifty per cent of the cost of the program.

The was some opposition to the option at Council from councillors Brian Nicholson and Rosemary McConkey but the motion carried.