CPA Attends Economics of Policing SummitLetter to the Editor (Halifax Chronicle Herald)
There’s no doubt policing spending is under the microscope, which is why I read Dan Leger’s editorial “Has crime crusader Toews finally seen the light” (Jan. 21, 2012) with great interest. It certainly isn’t for me to speak to the politics of the Public Safety Minister’s recent comments to the Economics of Policing Summit, hosted last week in Ottawa, however I would like to address some of Mr. Leger’s concerns regarding spending on policing.
While it is true, as Mr. Leger points out, that Canada currently employs 203 police officers per 100,000/population, it should also be noted that number is by no means out of the ordinary, when compared to our international partners. In fact, that number puts Canada behind similar countries such as the United States (242), England and Wales (252), Australia (262) and Scotland (331).
I also take issue with Mr. Leger’s dismissal of the need to invest in research that will find efficiencies within our sector, and the very real savings that those efficiencies will deliver to taxpayers. Too many officers today spend too much of their time waiting for court appearances, or photocopying empty notebooks to satisfy disclosure requirements that fail to employ basic common sense, and that is time that requires additional officers to be scheduled to be “on the streets.” Our members aren’t looking to circumvent these disclosure, or court requirements, we’re simply asking for all stakeholders to examine these practices and develop better strategies (perhaps through enhanced use of technology) that respect oversight as well as better control department spending.
Salaries are a significant portion of public safety spending, there’s no argument there, however I’d suggest that when taxpayers examine our budgets they’ll recognize that they receive tremendous value for their dollar. Our members today play various roles such as mental health worker, substance abuse counsellor, youth intervention officers, and they do it all while still maintaining responsibility for community safety. We can be proud of our police in this country, but our members recognize that we need to be partners in delivering the best possible service at a reasonable cost to taxpayers, after all, our members pay those same taxes as well.
Tom Stamatakis
President, Canadian Police Association
