VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Police department is cutting its budget by $4 million and won't be hiring 35 officers as planned this year. The one-per-cent budget cut is part of a city-wide budget cut to make up a $60 million city budget shortfall. Deputy Chief Bob Rolls said the police department agreed to a temporary decrease in 35 officers. He said the department already has 16 vacancies and will cut another 19 officers through attrition. "We were trying to bring the department to full strength to the end of the year, which would be 1327," he explained. "We've already reduced staffing this year somewhat," Rolls said, adding the department also has 20 civilian vacancies. "It is a step back but nevertheless lots of people are facing hard times," he said.
Rolls said the reduction in officer strength will slightly increase response times to calls from the public. He said it won't affect city policing during the 2010 Olympics next spring. He said there will be 20 officers positions unfilled next year. He said $9 million has been budgeted for the Olympics by city police. This year's Vancouver police budget is $190 million and will rise to $196 million next year.
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