The Victoria Police Department is seeking a nearly $2.5-million budget increase that includes hiring six new police officers and increased funding to cover for officers called away to assist with high-risk calls.
The proposed hires are the biggest new expense in the draft $55-million budget presented to city council on Tuesday. The price tag is $870,000 to hire two civilian employees in addition to the six officers, along with the related training and equipment.
The increased ask from the City for B次元官网网址渟pecial dutiesB次元官网网址� funding amounts to $160,000, which police say is needed due to an increased number of violent confrontations and more injuries to police officers, which leave gaps in patrol shifts as officers are called to provide emergency response.
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After the presentation, VicPD Chief Del Manak told the B次元官网网址 the department projects the number of calls where specialized officers and negotiators are deployed to high-risk incidents, many involving people barricading themselves with a weapon, is expected to be more than 40 per cent higher in 2017 over 2016. In many cases, alcohol or drugs are involved, or mental illness is a factor, he said.
B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of people in our community who need supports,B次元官网网址� Manak said.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a gap where the needs of these people are not being addressed B次元官网网址� and theyB次元官网网址檙e trying to do the best that they can. But they have behavioural issues and theyB次元官网网址檙e perhaps prone to violence, they donB次元官网网址檛 have the conflict management skills that most people have, and as a result they spiral into a crisis.B次元官网网址�
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Officers being called in for special duties accounts for a high proportion of overtime hours, he said, after payment for statutory holidays, and when officers testify in court or are held over from a call.
Police are also considering hiring an additional six staff members B次元官网网址� not included in this budget figure B次元官网网址� at another $400,000 per year. They also are continuing the with an increased budget around $14,000.
Overall, the increase in budget for policing amounts to roughly 4.8 per cent, or approximately $2.5 million.
