Front-line officers won't face cuts, says police chief

The proposed policing budget for next year will not affect front-line officers, said Halifax's chief of police at a police commission meeting on Monday.

"No front-line impact whatsoever, what it is, is the way that we do policing behind the scenes," said Halifax Regional Police Chief Jean-Michel Blais.

He said he's requestinga 5.5 per centincrease to the policing budget next year for a totalof $74 million.

Blais said most of therequested increase would be to pay for a 3.7 per cent increase to officers'salaries.

Afterfive years, afirst-class constable makes $86,000per year. The salary increase alone would accountfor an increase of $3.3 million.

Halifax Regional Police Associationvice-president Trevor Lasseline said the union had feared that as many as 28 police officers could be cut if the proposed budget had requested no increase over the previous year.

"We're buoyed by the newsof an over five per cent increaseas opposed to credible information that we were looking at a zero budget for the second year in a row," he said.

"By the sounds of it, we'll have those officers [and] have a better opportunity that we're going to be able to break up criminals firing shots at taxi cabs."

The $74-million figure would also include making up for the department's$3.8-million deficit.

Blais said he also wants to improve police technology for items like wire taps in serious investigations as well as funding for high-tech policing devices.

There are currently about 470 police officers employed by the HRM. To save money, the force is looking at converting up to 13 jobs in administration that are now performed by police in uniform to civilian positions.

"The number of people in uniform there will be a reduction as a result of those modifications by seven at this point, and the potential of 13but once again that has yet to be determined,"he said.

Blais saidthis proposalis the first step in a three step processand that it's still early in the budget process.

"The first step is togo before the board of police commissioners who will, in turn, make their determination as to the merits of the budget submission," he said.

"It will thenbe presented to council and then council will then make its determination whether to increase or decrease the current budget or could turn around and ask us to come back with some further information."