Sarnia police board considers removing members’ email addresses from website

A Sarnia police board member proposed replacing publicly listed email addresses with a contact form. The board will revisit the idea at its next meeting.

The Sarnia Police Service Board is considering whether to remove members’ individual email addresses from its website and direct the public through a contact form instead.

Board member Jerry Bernardo raised the idea at the Sept. 24 meeting. He suggested a page where visitors could select the subject of their message so operational questions would reach the appropriate person. He said board members sometimes receive hostile emails.

The suggestion prompted questions about whether taking down the addresses would make it harder for residents to contact the people overseeing the police service, or add work for the staff member who would route messages. One board member said the site could offer guidance on where to send different questions while still listing members’ direct contact information.

Other members said a form could make it easier for people to find the right contact. The board agreed to look into how it might work and return to the matter at its next meeting. It did not approve removing the email addresses.

The discussion followed an update on changes to the police service’s website, including work to make the board’s pages easier to use on mobile devices.