Ormstown mayor calls for more police after string of fires

The mayor of Ormstown, Philippe Besombes, is calling for increased police resources in response to a series of suspected arsons targeting restaurants in the municipality southwest of Montreal. In a recent meeting with Quebec’s Domestic Security Minister Guy Jr. Lapointe and senior provincial police officials, Besombes expressed concern over the safety of residents and business owners following five fires in the region over the past few months.

The latest incident involved a fire that destroyed a local pizzeria on Sunday, with provincial police investigating it as a suspected arson. Ormstown's 13 municipalities are currently served by only four provincial police officers in two patrol cars overnight, a level of policing that the mayor deems insufficient given the circumstances. Officials have promised to present Besombes with a concrete plan to address the issue.

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