The Durham Regional Police Service officially announced on May 12, 2026, that a new police station will be built in Ajax at 1401 Harwood Avenue North. The project aims to improve local safety and address a long-standing gap in service for the growing community.
Currently, residents of Ajax are served by the West Division station in Pickering, which was built in 1992. Since that time, the combined population of Ajax and Pickering has more than doubled. According to police leadership, the current arrangement is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of the area. Police Chief Peter Moreira stated that officers currently spend 53 per cent of their time responding to calls in Ajax while operating out of the Pickering facility.
The new Ajax Division is expected to cost $88 million and is anticipated to open in 2031. The facility will house frontline patrol operations, a criminal investigations unit, divisional command staff, and a dedicated space for community engagement. The development is subject to final approvals and funding from the Durham Region Council.
The proposed station is part of a larger 10-year, $1.14 billion funding plan for the police service. If approved in its current form, this plan could result in a total property tax increase for the region of between 9.02 per cent and 10.52 per cent in 2027. Some regional councillors have expressed concerns regarding the potential financial impact on residents, while officials emphasize the necessity of the new infrastructure to address the town’s growth.
Ajax Mayor Shaun Collier, who serves as the Chair of the Durham Regional Police Service Board, highlighted that the new division fulfills a commitment he made during his 2018 election campaign. He noted that Ajax has been the only southern municipality in the region without its own local police presence.
The location was revealed during National Police Week, which is observed to highlight the work of emergency responders and their partnerships with the communities they serve.
