Calgary city budget 2014: Police get 10 more officers

Calgary will get 10 additional officers over the next four years, according to a policing budget approved by city council.

The decision was made Thursday as councillors embarked on their fourth day of city budget planning.

Police Chief Rick Hanson and members of the Calgary Police Commission took questions from council.

During past budget debates, city council has asked whether the police should be exempt from austerity measures.

But this year, Hanson said he knew council had hard choices to make, so he seemed pleased to be getting 10 more officers.

Low crime rate

It will be enough to help maintain the city’s low crime rate, he said.

“Those officers will be coming on the street early next year to be able to deal with call-out issues and workload issues, so that's why we're confident in saying that in 2015, we can manage that with the positions allocated to us,” he said.

Hanson says he might need more officers in 2017 or 2018 if Calgary's population rises rapidly.

“We are using technology now to become extremely efficient," he said. 

"Some of our intervention programs are really starting to pay off. We're starting to see decreases in crime.”

However, Hanson said some investigations are becoming more complex technically. For example, some homicide investigations can cost more than $1 million to complete.

Responsible choice, says mayor

Mayor Naheed Nenshi said council could look at more officers in two years if necessary.

But unlike in the past where he's been critical of the police call for resources, Nenshi said the police now seem to understand there isn't unlimited money at city hall.

“What we have here is a very responsible volunteer citizen commission and a very responsible police service that said: 'Look, we have to balance just like everybody else does.'”

The budget debate at city hall will continue Friday.

• CBC city hall reporter Scott Dippel is in council chambers tweeting the budget developments. Follow along in the box below: