More collaboration needed in police budget process, decides Region of Waterloo committee

The Region of Waterloo's administration and finance committee is looking to change how much input the region's politicians have on the Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) budget.

Tuesday, councillors approved a motion which would make it necessary for the Waterloo Regional Police Services board to consult with council and the public before approving its annual budget, in an effort to encourage collaboration among stakeholders.

"I presented this motion because I do believe that there was a flaw in this process in terms of bringing us a final police budget without having an opportunity to speak with us, and essentially the community in a transparent way," said Coun. Colleen James who drafted the motion.   

The 2023 WRPS budget is over $214 million, an increase of $18.2 million from 2022. It had been approved by the police service's board in January, but sparked a debate last week when presented to regional council by Police Chief Mark Crowell. 

"I know some people around the table have said that they get calls ... they need more protection," James added. "Well, I'm getting the emails that are specifically stating that they are being over policed. That they are terrified."   

Council can only approve or reject the police budget. It has no control over individual budget items or the process. James said that currently if police don't agree with council's choice, WRPS are able to take the matter to tribunal to be settled.  

CBC News sought comment from the Waterloo Regional Police Service regarding James' motion, but no response was provided by deadline.  

Councillor comments on Tuesday were generally positive.

"This is one of the steps in healing," said Coun. Sue Foxton of the motion. 

The majority of councillors supported James' motion during debates, but Coun. Doug Craig offered a warning to his colleagues. 

"I think we need to be careful about our words and what we're suggesting here," he said, noting he believes the subject of defunding the police will be discussed at Wednesday's public engagement session on the police budget. 

"I think we got to be careful of words like, 'defund.' It's a very angry word," he said. "It's a very angry word and what people are saying essentially is they want to remodel, retool the police, etcetera, etc." 

If the motion is approved by regional council, the change will come into effect during next year's budget.

State of policing and crime

In a police report provided to council last week, the WRPS indicated that it would like to hire 55 additional officers over the next three years, 19 of whom would be hired this year as part of the proposed 2023 budget, and who will focus on "high demand policing areas." Another 18 would be hired in 2024 and 2025.

WRPS said the number of officers per capita in the region has gone down as its population has grown in size, and that crime has gone up by 34 per cent from 2012 to 2021.  

According to the WRPS report, in the last year shootings are up 56 per cent, cybercrime is up 36 per cent, weapons charges are up 27 per cent and impaired driving charges are up 19 per cent.