City Police are leading the country when it comes to crime reduction. That message has been delivered to the Finance Committee by the Chair of the Police Commission, Anne Marie Mullen.
Police this year expect to be 50 thousand dollars under budget but are looking for $644 thousand more next year.
Police Chief John Bates says they are getting more calls involving mental illness and these are driving up costs because they can take police off the street for hours at a time.
Chief Bates says a goal next year is to cut down on overtime with the addition of 4 new officers. It’s projected this year there will be 600 extra shifts.
One unknown next year will be wages and benefits because negotiations between the city and the Saint John Police Association have not concluded.
