$214M budget approved by Waterloo Regional Police Services board

The Waterloo Regional Police Services board has approved a $214 million budget for 2023.

Part of the budget focuses on the addition of 19 officers for high demand policing areas like frontline policing and victim-focused areas.

Police Chief Mark Crowell told the police services board that police staffing levels have not kept up with the demands of the growing population in Waterloo region.

"Approximately 100,000 residents year-over-year have been added to our regional population in the past decade and our total officer to population ratio has struggled to meet this demand," Crowell said.

"We've had great conversations with the board over several years of trying to find a way to balance out our growth with regional growth that is consistent, that is balanced, that is responsible and predictable to allow everyone a sense of how we grow as a service to meet the demands that we're facing."

A report presented Wednesday said regional police experienced an increase in crime last year compared to 2021.

Police reported an 56 per cent increase in shootings, a 27 per cent increase in weapon violations; a 36 per cent in luring cases under cyber crime and a 19 per cent increase in impaired driving charges.

The budget will now be sent to Region of Waterloo council for final approval.

Refund the community

A local Black community group is calling for regional councillors to reject any increase to the police budget.

African, Caribbean and Black Network of Waterloo Region issued an open letter on social media. The letter stated they want regional council to defund the police and refund the community.

The group says the funding could be put to better use, such as to:

• Improve transportation.
• Create inter-cultural community care services for Black, Indigenous and racialized communities.
• Make inclusive and accessible housing.
• Fund a Black cultural centre.

Challenge the proposed investment

Crowell says he understand there will be people in the community who will challenge the service's proposed investments. 

He says police support all the solutions and investments that will improve the health and wellness of the region and he hopes the region can move to a "wide range of community solutions that are potentially police-free. We're not there yet as a society."

"The investments in public safety that we are seeking through this board are necessary to address the growing violence, victimization, weaponization and the injustice that our members are grappling with every day and providing service to our community," Crowell said.

"It is our citizens that are asking for our help and we require additional support to provide the level of service that is being demanded of us."