More pan HRP budget cuts

[GreyEyes]

The move to eliminate surveillance cameras in downtown Halifax is not going over well with the business community.

Halifax Regional Police Chief Frank Beazley presented a preliminary budget to the board of police commissioners on Monday.

If that budget is passed by regional council, downtown surveillance cameras, the city's bike patrol and the mounted horse unit are among the services that will be eliminated.

"I think it's absurd that they want to cut that — it's a stupid idea," said Cadence Macmichael, the owner of Pretty Things Boutique in downtown Halifax.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/01/10/ns-police-budget-reaction.html?cmp=rss

Is Chief Beazley going in the right direction?

[Newperson]

It appears he has chosen the thing he would cut based on their popularity with the public.

[hfx_chris]

Ok the horse thing is really just a PR thing as I see it. I mean yes they're on duty and they're useful officers, but the whole horse thing is for show.
The bikes on the other hand makes sense to me. I mean they're not going to be in a high speed chase, but for downtown patrols it makes sense to me, more sense than foot patrols. You can cover a lot more ground a lot quicker on a bike than on foot.

[GreyEyes]

Yeah, if the public likes it, it has to go. The police horses in particular were very important in my opinion.

[GreyEyes]

Agreed Chris but like I said above, I think the horses played an integral part in public relations between the police and the public and PR is important especially in regards to law enforcement.

[R00T2O7]

I like seeing the bikes on the walking trails, but would rather they patrol them with motorcycles.
The horses just shit on the road.

[hfx_chris]

Yeah I know what you mean GE, but in my view the bikes are just as effective. The only thing they don't offer are photo opportunities with tourists.

[GreyEyes]

Here's a question slightly off topic: last summer I passed two bike patrol officers from HRP heading down the Cole Harbour Road and turning onto Bissett. Did the HRP bike patrol go that far out of Halifax proper?

[mr. mom]

Ok, so if these cuts are not good, then what should be?  I say cutting the little extras like this makes sense, perhaps we should cut their salaries and their number instead.  Increasing the budget to pay for everything is not an option to me, as I cannot afford to keep paying more and more, especially since I am being told not to expect any increases of my own for possibly years.

[GreyEyes]

How much fat in the HRP? I wonder how much it costs to maintain non-policing departments within the department.

[mr. mom]

How much fat in the HRP? I wonder how much it costs to maintain non-policing departments within the department.

not sure but I doubt it would be in the millions and I think it was around 2 million that needed to be cut.