The Cornwall Police Service responded to 162 calls for service between March 27 and March 30, 2026, marking a significant increase over the typical daily volume for the community in Ontario.
The calls recorded over that weekend included reports of domestic assault, mischief, and failure to comply with court orders. By comparison, daily police activity in the city usually ranges between 59 and 64 calls for a 24-hour period.
The local police force, which has been in operation since 1860, serves a population of approximately 46,876. The department is currently staffed by 87 sworn officers, 46 civilians, 10 special constables, and 16 part-time employees. Policing in the city is overseen by the Cornwall Police Services Board, which recently approved a 9.87 percent budget increase for the service in 2026.
This spike in call volume comes as the service undergoes a leadership transition following the retirement announcement of Chief Shawna Spowart. As the first female chief of the department, Spowart oversaw the introduction of several initiatives, including the use of body-worn cameras, the addition of carbine rifles for officers, and the launch of a new online reporting system for residents.
Annual reports from 2025 show that the service handled 193 missing person investigations and recorded 21 vehicle pursuits, an increase from 17 in 2024. Despite the rise in pursuits, the department saw a decrease in the use of force, with 34 incidents reported in 2025 compared to 57 the previous year.
