A major “equity gap” in regional emergency services is set to close as the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) officially unveiled the future home of the Ajax Police Station 2031. On Tuesday, May 12, Mayor Shaun Collier and Police Chief Peter Moreira stood at 1401 Harwood Ave. N. to announce that Ajax will finally receive its own dedicated police facility. Located between Rossland Road and Taunton Road, the new division will end decades of reliance on the West Division in Pickering, which has struggled to serve the combined, skyrocketing populations of both municipalities from a facility built in 1992.
Bridging the Service Gap
The Ajax Police Station 2031 represents a long-awaited fulfillment of a 2018 mayoral campaign promise by Shaun Collier. Currently, Ajax is the only southern Durham municipality without its own local station. By establishing a dedicated base at the Harwood Avenue site, the DRPS aims to bring frontline operations, investigators, and support services closer to the residents they serve. Chief Moreira noted that with the populations of Ajax and Pickering more than doubling since the early 90s, calls for service have increased to a level that the current Pickering-based infrastructure can no longer sustainably handle.
A Modern, Sustainable Hub
The vision for the Ajax Police Station 2031 extends beyond traditional law enforcement. The facility is expected to include:
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Frontline Patrol Operations: Direct dispatch from within the town to improve response times.
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Community Response Unit: Dedicated officers focused on neighborhood-level issues and engagement.
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Criminal Investigations Branch: On-site detectives to handle local cases without the need for inter-city transit.
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Net-Zero Design: In line with regional sustainability goals, the building will be designed to modern environmental standards, aiming for a carbon-neutral footprint.
Funding and Tax Implications
While the unveiling of the Ajax Police Station 2031 is a milestone, it comes with a significant regional price tag. Durham Regional staff are currently proposing a long-term funding plan to cover this station and other critical police expenditures. Preliminary estimates suggest that these investments, combined with other regional pressures, could contribute to a total overall property tax increase exceeding nine per cent in 2027. Despite the cost, Mayor Collier emphasized that the investment is a “critical investment in our future” that ensures Ajax residents receive a level of service equal to their neighbors in Whitby and Oshawa.
Timeline to Completion
The Ajax Police Station 2031 is currently in the initial planning and “regional approval” phase. While the location is now secured, a specific groundbreaking date remains to be determined as environmental assessments and final architectural designs are completed. If the project follows the proposed five-year trajectory, Ajax residents can expect the station to be fully operational by 2031. For the next several years, the West Division in Pickering will continue to act as the primary hub, though the DRPS plans to gradually shift more resources into Ajax-specific community policing as the new site develops.
The announcement, made appropriately during National Police Week, signals a major victory for Ajax’s diverse and growing community, promising a future of enhanced public safety and stronger officer-resident relationships.
