A newly released financial review challenges the proposed $91 million police headquarters, arguing the plan relies on inflated costs and a manufactured crisis while offering a decentralized alternative.
A newly released forensic audit and strategic review of the Sarnia Police Service’s facility proposal has concluded that the request for a new $91 million headquarters is based on inflated costs, a "manufactured" infrastructure crisis, and speculative growth plans that have never been approved by City Council.
The document, titled Forensic Audit and Strategic Review of Sarnia Police Service Facilities, provides a detailed financial analysis of the police service's capital proposal.
It challenges the narrative that the current 1987 headquarters is "untenable," citing independent reports that contradict the Police Board's claims, and offers a "Hybrid Precinct Model" as a cost-effective alternative to the massive new build.
The audit highlights a stark contradiction in how the condition of the current Christina Street headquarters has been presented to the public.
According to the report, a "High-Level Building Condition Assessment Survey" completed by WalterFedy in January 2018 gave the police headquarters an "Overall Building Condition Rating" of "Excellent".
Despite this, the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) has recently characterized the building as being in a state of critical failure.
The audit notes that a 2023 assessment by Dillon Consulting did identify deficiencies, but concluded that the facility required only approximately $4.4 million in capital upgrades to become code-compliant—a fraction of the cost of a new build.
"The dramatic shift in the official narrative—from 'Excellent' condition in 2018 to the current presentation of the building as being in an 'untenable' crisis—suggests a strategic decision was made to define the problem not as a manageable, age-related infrastructure deficit, but as an irremediable functional and architectural inadequacy," the audit states.
The review also raises alarms regarding the projected costs of the new facility.
The police service's $91 million estimate is based on a construction cost of $865 per square foot, which the audit notes is roughly 49% higher than the national industry benchmark for police stations ($580/sq.ft.).
Furthermore, preliminary architectural documents reveal that the $91 million figure is an incomplete "order of magnitude" estimate that excludes essential "soft costs" such as permits, taxes, and specialty equipment.
When these are factored in, the true cost to taxpayers is projected to exceed $120 million.
The audit also warns Council about the current $25 million "Phase One" proposal, describing it as a "commitment trap".
By approving the initial millions for land servicing and design, the report argues, the City effectively locks itself into the full nine-figure project, as reversing course after such an investment becomes politically impossible.
A significant driver of the proposed building's massive 98,650-square-foot size is what the audit calls "speculative growth".
Planning documents cite the "long-term potential" for Sarnia Police to take over policing for Point Edward and Lambton County, requiring an additional 75 to 100 officers.
However, the audit confirms that officials in Point Edward have had no discussions regarding such a takeover, and Sarnia City Council has never endorsed expanding police jurisdiction.
In place of the $120 million "monolith," the audit proposes a Hybrid Precinct Model. This approach would see the City:
This model, the report argues, would align with modern community policing standards while saving taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in unnecessary debt.
The full Forensic Audit and Strategic Review is now available for public review.
