Hamilton police budget's new spending to focus on traffic safety

The Hamilton Police Service is asking for$6.643 million morein its 2020 budget,with a focus of new spending on hiring traffic safety officers.

Police chief Eric Girt said at a police services board meeting Monday he hopes to bring on eight officers dedicated to road safety.

"Traffic-related issues are the things that affect people, driving either to and from places, seeing distracted drivers, being the victims of aggressive drivers when they're cut off and speeding," he said.

The previous targeted enforcement along Red Hill Valley and the Lincoln Alexander Parkway involved two officers, but Girt saidthe eight new officers would act as a pilot project, doingtrafficenforcement, RIDE checks, investigate accidents and also look out for problem drivers.

The budget request report estimates the pilot will generateabout$945,120 in traffic fines and produce close to 9,600 tickets yearly.

Initial proposal turned down

He initially pitched a$7.16 million or 4.34 per cent budget increase, but the board quickly motioned tohold off on four traffic enhancement positions and use reserve funds to pay for police vehicles focused on traffic safety.

"I can predict 4.34per cent is not going to fly in council," Jacksonsaid.

Girt also asked for one civilian and one detective constable dedicated to sexual assault investigations, though the board delayed the hiring of the detective constable to next year to reduce this year's budget.

Still, Girt saidhe is content with the decision as it willstill include hiring two special constables for the Provincial Offence Administration Courthouse and six cadets.

With the cuts, the total budget is still a 4.02 per centincrease,leaving the police budget at roughly $171.6 million.

Girt added the service has lost roughly $600,000 in a lack of grants, predominantly from the provincial government, but has seen a one per cent assessment growth.

Mayor Fred Eisenbergerre-elected as board chair

The mayor stayed on as chair, uncontested, though the vice chair came down to a single vote.

Don MacVicar, a provincial appointee and vice chair prior the election,had to make an "elevator pitch" to the board as to why he should stay, after Fred Bennink was nominated.

"My passion is to serve the needs of this community," he said, reading from his notes, citing his years of involvement on subcommittees and volunteering.

Bennink focused on change.

"We need to govern much more proactively. We need to get out in front of issues with a servanthood, leadership approach," he said, reading his own speech. "We need to change and evolve."

Neither speech shifted any of the original votes.

Eisenberger, Coun. Chad Collinsand Jackson voted for MacVicar, which won him the position.