Could new police HQ in Niagara cover Hamilton's forensics needs?

The chairman of Niagara's police services board wants to talk with his counterparts in Hamilton about whether the two police servicescould work together to share forensics space instead of Hamilton building its own lab.

For Niagara board chairBob Gale that's just one area where the neighbouring municipalitiescould share services and save money on policing.

The last time we needed an armoured vehicle in the Niagara region was never.- Niagara board chairBob Gale

In a letter to Hamilton's police services board, obtained by CBC Hamilton,Gale requests the Hamilton Police Services Board consider forming a group of board members and police staff from both places to find efficiencies through sharing.

"Guys, come on, let's share some of this stuff," Gale told CBC News. "We all want our own identity but we don't all need armoured vehicles, helicopters and all this."

"The last time we needed an armoured vehicle in the Niagara region was never," he said. Niagara is about to open a new police headquarters and it might be able to help Hamilton with its forensics requirements, he said.

'Crime is down!'

Gale, who was a police officer in the 1970s before running a successful gas station and convenience store business, said he's on a mission to find efficient ways to make policing better.

"Crime is down! So let's start looking at stuff," he said.

Hamilton, which has an armoured vehicle, is working on a plan to build a $24.5 million forensics building, but has had trouble getting funding from federal and provincial sources.

At its meeting scheduled for Friday, Hamilton's board will discuss sending the chief, deputy chief, chair and vice chair to meet with Gale and others from the police services board.

But in the meantime the Hamilton board is moving forward with its own plan to build the forensics building here. The agenda for Friday's meeting states that the board will also discuss a new "Investigative Services Division Project" budget item and financial strategy to go before the city of Hamilton's 2017 budget process.

Beyond those descriptions, there were no details posted online to accompany the meeting agenda on Monday.

Gale said he hadn't looked closely enough at the details of Hamilton's plan to see if Niagara expects to have enough space to cover both service's needs.

"It might not work. I understand that," he said. "But let's try."

kelly.bennett@cbc.ca | @kellyrbennett