The Belleville Police Services Board is trying to take steps to help with a staffing crisis within the police force.
Chief Ron Gignac told the board Tuesday that there are currently seven officers off duty, with no fixed date to return and another 12 that are on reduced duties or short-term leave, due to injuries suffered while in the line of duty.
Gignac proposed hiring two supplemental officers, one to start in January and one in May, who would help the police force maintain its service levels across the city.
Gignac says the salaries of the supplemental officers can be covered by compensation from the WSIB, for the officers who are on extended leave and that if full-time officers come back to work, the supplemental positions would be eliminated, but the officers would stay on staff.
The Belleville Police Service has a current authorized complement of 90 officers, which will jump to 92 when the two new ICE officers are on staff.
The total number of officers in the service jumps to 95 with the addition of these two new supplemental positions and another trio of supplemental officers that have already been hired.
