Police Services

If you require emergency police assistance, please call 911.

To file an online police report, visit the OPP Online Reporting System (available for minor occurrences).

The Town of Essex has contracted the Ontario Provincial Police for police services. The Town of Essex is one of five municipalities served by the Essex County OPP Detachment.

The Town of Essex is part of the Essex County OPP Detachment Board that was created when the new Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, came into effect on April 1, 2024. The new detachment board is comprised of the Municipality of Lakeshore, the Town of Tecumseh, and the Town of Essex.

Contact

To file a police report with the OPP, call 1-888-310-1122 (TTY 1-888-310-1133)
To file an online police report, visit the OPP Online Reporting System (available for minor occurrences)
For the administrative office of the Essex OPP Detachment, call 519-738-3796

Detachment Locations

Essex OPP Detachment
44 King Street East
Harrow, ON
Hours: Monday to Friday (8:00AM - 4:00PM)
Phone: 519-738-3796

Essex OPP Extended Service Office (Satellite)
31 Gosfield Townline West
Essex, ON

Essex County Detachment
1219 Hicks Rd.
Essex, ON
Hours: Monday to Friday (8:00AM - 4:00PM)
Phone: 519-723-2491

Criminal Record Checks

For information on obtaining a Criminal Records Check or Police Clearance for employment or volunteering, please visit the Ontario Provincial Police website.

Collision Reporting

You can report minor collisions to one of the Essex County Collision Reporting Centres if you meet certain conditions. Visit the OPP website for more information.

Essex County Collision Reporting Centres

Essex County Detachment
1219 Hicks Road
Essex, ON
Phone: 519-723-2491
Hours: Monday to Friday (8:00AM - 4:00PM)

Leamington Detachment
7 Clark Street West
Leamington, ON
Phone: 519-326-2544 ext. 7270
Hours: Monday to Friday (8:00AM - 4:00PM)

Project Safe Trade

The Town of Essex and the OPP encourage buyers and sellers to use the two community safety zones in the municipality to exchange items purchased over the internet.

Internet Purchase Exchange Zones have been established at the Harrow OPP Detachment (44 King Street East) and in the parking lot at the Essex OPP satellite office in Essex Centre (31 Gosfield Townline West). Each location is identified by signage posted at the parking area reserved for buyers and sellers.

To ensure that you are not buying stolen goods, purchasers are encouraged to use the Canadian Police Information Centre’s online database (www.cpic-cipc.ca) to search the serial number of the item they are looking to purchase.

The OPP also suggests that sellers include a statement at the end of online ads indicating that final sales transactions will take place at a specific Internet Purchase Exchange Zone.

To learn more about Project Safe Trade, please visit the OPP website.

Image of Project Safe Trade sign

Essex County Mental Health Response Unit

In partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police, the Essex County Mental Health Response Unit provides intervention to individuals who are in severe distress, or who are experiencing a mental health crisis and whose needs are not being effectively met through the justice system or the health sector.

Useful Links