Halifax police want funding for new civilian roles in $101M budget

Halifax Regional Police are asking for funding in next year's budget to support more civilian positions, including new roles in domestic violence support.

Chief Don MacLean presented HRP's proposed operating budget of $101.2 million in 2025-26 to Halifax's board of police commissioners on Wednesday. That's 3.3 per cent higher than last year's budget of $98 million, which included funding for 22 new officer positions.

The budget is mostly made up of fixed costs that can't be changed by the board, such as salaries, equipment and building maintenance fees. But it also includes a request for $462,300 that would pay for seven new civilian positions.

MacLean told the board that he has enough positions funded for sworn officers, and is working to recruit and train the people to fill them.

"We need to build up some of the civilian capacity to deal with some of those other issues which I think are just as important to the running of the operation," MacLean said during the meeting.

The new roles would include two Victim Services positions, bringing that unit from four to six. One would be a caseworker to support victims of domestic violence, and the other would be a navigator to work with high-risk offenders and help prevent more harm.

The offender navigator has been in place since 2019 as a temporary position, but the funding will run out in May 2025. The request before the board would make the job a permanent one.

While reported domestic violence cases are down compared to a few years ago, MacLean said the overall numbers don't reflect reality. 

"It clearly is an iceberg. What we see is not what occurs," MacLean said.

He also noted that high-risk domestic cases, and cases with critical developments where someone has reoffended, have gone up since 2018.

The other roles include an auditor, quartermaster who handles equipment, administrative support for cadet classes, forensic media specialist to organize video evidence, and manager to co-ordinate return-to-work programs and employee and family assistance. 

MacLean said a sergeant is currently handling the auditor's duties, and officers leading the police science cadet classes are also spending time on paperwork.

"Some of the positions you're bringing in are freeing up our members who can get back now to core policing," said board chair Coun. Becky Kent.

The budget also contains about $857,500 for staffing and software to support the introduction of body-worn and in-car cameras, but they wouldn't be in place until early 2026. 

The budget for that project would jump to $3 million in 2026-27.

MacLean said HRP is following the RCMP's lead when it comes to policies and logistics for the body cameras, given they have started to roll them out in Halifax and across Nova Scotia.

"There'll be a percentage of the public that'll be opposed to body-worn cameras, but I think it's good for the safety of our citizens, I think it's good for the safety of our officers too," said Coun. Tony Mancini.

Coun. Virginia Hinch said she was surprised HRP didn't already have cameras in their cruisers.

"It's 2024 and I at least thought we would be there," Hinch said.

MacLean also said this year's budget has funds for on-demand interpretive services police can use to better serve diverse communities where English may not be the first language.

RCMP asking for 14 new officers

The board deferred its discussion of Halifax RCMP's budget until a later meeting. The Mounties are asking for 14 new officers, which include a traffic position in Musquodoboit Harbour, community policing officer in Sheet Harbour, and new community offices with six positions apiece in Beechville and Fall River.

The public will get the chance to weigh in on both police budgets at a virtual meeting on Jan. 8, 2025, before the board's final decision.

The board's recommendation will then go to regional council for a final vote as part of the larger budget process.