Victoria police will cut staff unless council increases budget, chief says

Victoria councillors sayits police department is asking for an unsustainable budget increase, but the forcesays public safety could be jeopardized without more funds.

The Victoria Police Departmentis seeking a budget increase of about six per centon its nearly$54 million annual budget. It says it needs the increase to cover a range of costs, including pensions, B.C.'s newemployerhealth taxand what it says is a changing community.

But in a 5-3 vote Thursday, Victoria's committee of the wholerejected that amount and ordered the force to come up with a new budget that's only 3.4 per cent higher, according to a policespokesperson.

"That is a pretty hefty increase ... we're investing in policing, but we're also investing in housing and climate action and a ton of really important things at the city level," said Coun. Laurel Collins, who voted for the trimmed budget.

But the force says the lower increasewon't cover its rising costs and will result in a budget shortfall.

If council won't meet its request, Chief Del Manak saidVicPD will have to make cuts to staff which could hurt its ability to respond to emergencies.

Changing role

Collins said the police budget request comes at a time of declining crime rates and saysVictoria's residents pay the highestper capita policing costsin the country.

But Manak called those points a "false narrative."

Manak said crime has been ticking upwards in recent years and Victoria policenot only have to serve Victoria citizens, but also out-of-town tourists and late-night revellers coming downtown from neighbouring municipalities.

Manak also said the department remains extremely busy with about 160 calls each day including many non-criminal matters, such as suicidesandreports of suspicious persons.

"They are continuing down the path of reductions in staff," Manak said. "It's going to mean a reduction in service."

New problems includingincreasedviolence, drug overdosesand even terrorismmean police work is becoming more complicated, he added.

"We're living in a new world reality."

Contentious meeting

During acontentious meeting Thursday,councillors went over the budgetline by line with Manak and the force's controller to find savings.

Manak insists there are none to be had and the likely option willbe to cut the equivalent of nine officers.

The force currently has 243 officers and several dozen civilians employees, according to adepartment spokesperson.

It's possible that some or all of the cuts would come from the civilian employees, but Manak said that would tieofficersdown with administrative work.

Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe, who supports a higher police budget, said she was frustrated by her colleagues who voted against it.

"It all goes back to public safety as well as officer safety," Thornton Joe told On The Island host Gregor Craigie. "I hope some of my colleagues will reconsider."

The police board will nowdraft a new budget for council to consider.