3395 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Ya that makes no sense in any context.

[LJ]

I agree, if I were a female and I got raped once you would never find me in the company of that a'hole again. I would taser his gonads.

[pontcanna]

Saanich police looking for nearly 10% budget increase

• Times Colonist
• 3 Dec 2023

The Saanich Police Department is asking for an almost 10 per cent budget increase in 2024, citing rising costs and the need for new patrol officers and wage increases. The request for $47.1 million for the department next year — a $4.2 million or 9.7 per cent increase over 2023 — is set to go before Saanich council Monday night.

 

The new staffing resources include four patrol officers, two special investigations section constables and four civilian support staff.

 

According to its website, the department currently has 185 police positions, 60 civilian positions and 50 reserve constables.

 

Mayor Dean Murdock, who chairs the Saanich police board, said both the board and council recognize that Saanich is a growing community, with “increasing complexity around public safety.”

 

The district’s population is also growing and the number of officers has not increased “in quite some time,” he said.

 

According to a budget report prepared by the police board, the department’s patrol staffing levels are the same as they were in 2016.

 

At the same time, the report notes, demands on patrol officers have increased in terms of calls for service and complexity of the work.

 

The budget increase reflects a $2.1 million increase in wages and benefits, increased operating expenses and fleet maintenance that will cost $486,504 more than last year, an $827,460 increase in the E-Comm levy and $626,560 for 10 new staff.

 

Murdock said one of the goals is to get more police officers on the street.

 

More: https://digitaltimes...281496461050262

 

 

[Mike K.]

Almost a million in e-comm? What’s that all about?

[Victoria Watcher]

Who knows why our radio and dispatch systems cost so much and has so much beautocrwcy.

Whenever I overdose I just call my ambulance driver directly on her cellphone.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 December 2023 - 07:30 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

That article is pretty good at putting exact dollar figures on everything.

When it comes to population, crime, or call-out increases it becomes very vague all of a sudden. Almost at if they are unlikely anywhere near 10% higher.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 December 2023 - 07:32 AM.

[Mike K.]

They quote what’s in the report. If the report is suddenly vague, so will be the coverage.

[Victoria Watcher]

Ya I tried to find the report. No go.

[Victoria Watcher]

Saanich Police asked for 4.64% more last year. Not sure they received it.

[Victoria Watcher]

They quote what’s in the report. If the report is suddenly vague, so will be the coverage.

 

 

 

I found the report:

 

 

 

A review of our PRIME statistics indicated a 13.6% increase in the number of Saanich PRIME files when comparing the 5-year average for the period of 2012 – 2016 to the 5-year average for 2017- 2021.

 

 

https://saanich.ca.g...2&meta_id=62665

 

 

No notes about the general population increase.  Lots of notes showing how the cost per capita is smaller than say Abbotsford and CoV.

 

 

 

 

Not only have the calls for service increased, but the amount of time that officers spend at each call or investigation has increased, for a variety of reasons. This includes but not limited to, increased complexity of calls, trauma informed investigations, crisis intervention and de-escalation tactics, disclosure requirements, changes to critical incident response tactics, technological sophistication, hospital wait times, to name a few). Additionally, the nature of the calls for service has changed.

 

Police officers not only respond to calls relating to criminal offences and public safety, but they are often the first (and sometimes the only) level of response to many complex social issues including homeless encampments, addiction, and mental health related issues. Officers spend significantly more time conducting park checks, enforcing the Temporary Overnight Sheltering Bylaw, and engaging with the homeless population, than ever before.

 

In recent years Saanich has become the home for new housing shelters including the Mt. Tolmie and Albina shelters. This has resulted in an increased call load associated to open drug use and loitering near - 9 - other community services and vulnerable persons, such as daycares. Additionally, the proximity of other homeless shelters and services, just south of our border in Victoria, has resulted in the migration of individuals to areas in Saanich including Uptown, Tillicum/Gorge, and Shelbourne corridors.

 

As the District of Saanich continues to grow and make thoughtful and modern changes to road infrastructure, design, speed limits as well as increasing the number of affordable multi-person housing units, it is critical to assess the impact these have on front line policing. The Patrol Division, including the Traffic Safety Unit, have experienced increased complaints related to changes made within the community as it grows and develops, which translates to increased call loads, prolonged response times, and less time to conduct proactive and preventative policing with the current available resources.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 December 2023 - 07:07 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Police released a statement late Friday asking the public to help identify a man who allegedly brandished a handgun during a home invasion Friday afternoon in Langford.

 

West Shore RCMP Cpl. Nancy Saggar said in a statement that police were on scene within minutes after receiving a report of a home invasion near the 3000-block of Glen Lake Road in Langford shortly before 5 p.m.

 

Saggar said a man pushed his way into the home after the occupant opened the door to see why their dogs were barking.

 

“After the victim’s dogs challenged the suspect, he allegedly brandished a black handgun before leaving the home and running toward Alouette Drive,” Saggar said.

 

The home’s occupant was not hurt in the incident, she said, adding that police were unable to locate the suspect despite an extensive search and the use of a police dog.

 

Police initially said on Friday that there was no risk to the public. Saggar said that the victim and the man were not known to each other, and police believed that it was an one-off incident.

 

“Police believe this is an isolated incident as similar reports of this nature have not been received,” she said.

 

But West Shore RCMP said on Saturday that another home invasion involving a firearm had occurred in View Royal, just 12 hours later.

 

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...t-shore-7916031

 

 

How can you say there is no risk to the public when the incident appears random and the suspect and victim do not know one another?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 December 2023 - 07:24 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The department’s patrol staffing levels are the same as they were in 2016. There are 166 sworn officers, though the department often operates with just minimum staffing levels of six to eight constables on a shift.

“That’s six constables patrolling the largest municipality on Vancouver Island that is growing and becoming busier,” Duthie said. “The need to increase is significant. Our officers are feeling safety issues on the road because of lack of strength and bodies responding to calls.”


https://www.timescol...o-calls-7930116

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 December 2023 - 10:36 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

I’m trying to do the very simple math here.

720 hours in a month. Each officer can do about 180 a month. So you’d need 4 officers if you only had one on at a time.

But if you have 10 on at a time, you only need 40 officers.

But they have 166 officers. Enough to always have 40 on every hour of every day. But they say they only have 6-8 on during some shifts.

Again, simple math but what isn’t adding up?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 December 2023 - 10:43 AM.

[Mike K.]

Not that many frontline officers, would be my guess.

[Victoria Watcher]

Or “patrol” officers, ya.

[max.bravo]

Probably at least 10% are off on vacation, stress leave, long term illness/injury, parental leave, training leave, etc at any given time.

[Victoria Watcher]

It’s 28% just on leave in CoV.

Sounds inefficient. Cull the officers that don’t want to work. The job is not for everyone. Those that can not handle it should move on to a career more appropriate for them.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 December 2023 - 01:05 PM.

[max.bravo]

But unions.

[Victoria Watcher]

Well, better hiring process to start would make improvements.

[Victoria Watcher]

I’m trying to do the very simple math here.

720 hours in a month. Each officer can do about 180 a month. So you’d need 4 officers if you only had one on at a time.

But if you have 10 on at a time, you only need 40 officers.

But they have 166 officers. Enough to always have 40 on every hour of every day. But they say they only have 6-8 on during some shifts.

Again, simple math but what isn’t adding up?

 

 

Duthie said there has been no increase in platoon strength since 2016. Right now, Saanich has 14 constables in four patrol platoons and the minimum strength needed at any given time is six to eight constables.

 

 

 

https://www.vicnews....ncrease-7119298

 

 

 

OK, 14 x 4 = 56 officers.  That leaves another 110 officers doing something else.