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PAGE 2, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1976, WHITBY FREE PRESS Large crowd turns out to public meeting Thursday to protest region's decision to close po ice station FROM PAGE I Mr. Jermyn put forth other reasons for the decision to close the Whitby station. He said one reason is the station is not being visited by very many people. Mr. Jermyn said that during a five-day period in March bctween the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., only 23 people visited the Whitby station as conipared to 122 in Ajax and 47 in Bowman- ville and during a 21-day period between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m., an average of one person visited the Whitby station every 4.29 hours. "It's a sad waste of man- power to keep the facility open around the clock", he §aid and remarked that the people who man the building are simply "babysitting the station. Economics dictate that we make better use of our manpower". Also, Mr. Jermyn said, a problem with the plumbing in the statiÃ"n's cell area causes an unpleasant odor which at times, is so bad that the building becomes "uninhabi- table". Whitby Councillor Don Lovelock, a member of the region's management com- mittee, disputed that charge, saying that the committee recently toured the station and foundnothingwrongwith the toilet facilities. le point- ed out that a recent grand jury report also said the building is in "excellent condition". Snelly toilets or not, our police station will be closed unless regional council res- cinds its previous decision and gives the police coni- mission more money, accord- ing to Mr. Jermyn. "If regional council gives us back the noney, we'll keep the station open", he said. ALTERNATIVE Regional council did put $14,000 back into the police budget so that a storefront station could be set up in the downtown area and would be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Mr. Jermyn pointed out that the three patrol areas in the town woud remaîin the saine and the three patrol officers would each have a key to the facility to use it "The shoe with the magic sole" Collins Shoes 119 Prock St.S. DOWNTOWN WHITBY Open Ever Day Until 6 p.m. Frday Until 9 as required. The Youth bureau would continue to operate from Whitby while the safety bureau, pree;týîly based here, would be spread out through- out the region. He added that Oshawa would remain the centre of the criminal investigation branch. "The level of police service in Whitby will not be adversely affected by closing the facility on Rossland Road", Mr. Jermyn feels. The . majority of people present at the meeting did not share Mr. Jernyn's optimism and they let him know with a loud chorus of boos. Mr. Jermyn was heckled thro"ghout the evening, but the most violent reaction carne when he admitted that the region plans to spend $600,000 to expand the police headquarters in Oshawa in 1978. SOME REACTION In contrast, the members of . Whitby Council who spoke against the closing, were roundly applauded by their constituents. Councillor Lovelock ad- dressed himself to the present level of police service in the tow n. "We're not happy with the level of ser- -vice we're getting for the S900,000 we're spending", he said. Councillor Bob Carson dealt with the closing of the station. "I just cannot imagine a growing community of 27,000 people without a police station", he said. Councillor Joy Thompson spoke on both the present level of police service and the need to keep the station open. "We haven't got that inner feeling of security anymore", she said. "If we can keep our station, we'll be able to go to bed at nights and sleep in peace". Councillors Tom Edwards and Ken Hobbs felt that the decision to close our police station was not simply based on economics, but instead was a further step in Oshawa's attempt to subjugate Whitby. Councillor Edwards who urged the people present to take their protest to regional council, said "This is not an .conomic decision. It's not a policing decision. It's a political decision". Councillor Hobbs, after vividly pointing out that people can no longer relate to the policemen because they are frequently trans- ferred, said "Behind this, there's a greatr political move on to destroy the identity of this municipal- ity". Mayor Gartshore, because he chaired this meeting, was in no position to comment. The meeting ended on a sonewhat bright note when regional chairman Walter Beath told those present at the meeting "I will carry your message back to the regional cou ncil". SPEND 15 MINUTES ON US TOMORROW AND FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN DURHAM I NOON REPORT 12:20 p.m. Weather, Sports and News THE 1355 OSHAWA STATION