Waterloo regional police face early pushback on proposed 2024 budget ask
CTV
The Waterloo Regional Police Services Board is looking to hire an additional 18 new officers in 2024, seeking approval for the increase through the upcoming budget.
The Waterloo Regional Police Services Board is looking to hire an additional 18 new officers in 2024, seeking approval for the increase through the upcoming budget.
The number stems from a multi-year plan to increase the number of officers in the community.
But according to a report from public accountant firm KPMG -- the force had 35 open unfilled positions when they asked for money to hire 19 more officers last year.
At Wednesday’s police board meeting, Chief Mark Crowell said some of those positions have since been filled. But Crowell didn’t say exactly how many vacancies the service currently has when asked.
“We’ve successfully on-boarded 23 new officers this year. As of the next couple of weeks we will be solidifying the number for the next class of the Ontario Police College. So the growth and the gap in our staffing continues,” Crowell said.
Regional councillor Rob Deutschmann said he's inclined to deny the request from police this year, until the force can show it can fill current vacant positions.
"I think we should deny at this stage until they can come back and show us that they are able to hire what they have. It takes about a year to a year and a half for an officer to become fully integrated into the system," Deutschmann said.
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