OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said he's going to do his "homework" before he commits to agreeing with the force's union that 500 new cops are needed as soon as possible.
In an interview with Sun Media yesterday, Fantino reacted to OPP union boss Karl Walsh's blunt letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty claiming a "critical" staffing shortage means the force needs up to 500 new frontline officers.
Fantino said he's in the process of reviewing operations to determine how to address potential staffing shortages as well as issues of efficiency.
He agreed there are personnel shortages but added that more and more young recruits are applying to the OPP, year after year.
"I'm doing my homework, but I'm not going to disagree there are shortages," Fantino, former head of police in London, said.
In his letter to McGuinty, Walsh wrote, "The officers are reaching the breaking point. You have the obligation to provide the funding to fix this problem."
Fantino said he is taking a measured approach to the issue.
The commissioner, who was Toronto Police chief from 2000-2005, said he'll be able to determine how many new officers are needed when his review is completed.