Belleville Police Chief, Ron Gignac.(Photo: John Spitters / Quinte News).
The City of Belleville’s Chief of Police says the service is seriously understaffed.
And, Chief Ron Gignac is suggesting ways to increase the number of police officers and other
staff without blowing up the budget.
Belleville’s Police Services Board will see a detailed report tomorrow (Thursday) on staffing needs.
In a preamble, Chief Gignac outlined how much more complicated policing is now when compared to a couple of decades ago.
In Belleville specifically, there is much more population and much more business and many more complex investigations
involving internet technology. There is much more paperwork for officers to do than there used to be.
The report also states that assaults against officers occur much more often these days, rising 700% in just one year, causing more injury and time off for affected officers.
And, officers are dealing with more issues involving people with mental health issues.
The Chief says with officers off due to work related injury or stress, the service is now 18% understaffed.
The report also says the provincial police service average number of sworn members is 96 per 50,000 population, meaning the
Belleville Police Service is eight officers short of the average.
In his recommendation to the Police Services Board, Chief Gignac proposes moving the full-time complement of officers from 88 to 90, and hiring a couple of 4th class constables next year on a temporary basis to replace officers now off on work-related leave.
The Chief says the service also desperately needs another civilian expert in information technology.
The good news for the board is that Chief Gignac maintains the improvements can be made within the 2018 budget and without a vast increase to the taxpayer.
Belleville’s Police Services Board meets tomorrow (Thursday) at 10 in the morning in council chambers at City Hall.
