The Chatham-Kent Police Service has laid out its plans to increase its workforce special council meeting held Tuesday night.
Due to a number of factors, including increased workloads, staff burnout, increased crime rates and increased calls for service, the police service wants to hire 43 more staff.
The recommendation was made as part of an organizational review done earlier this year by independent consulting firm Deloitte.
The proposed 2024 police budget has a 6.29 percent increase, compared to the year prior. Over the next four years, if approved, the police budget would increase on average by 6.95 percent a year.
The 43 new hires that the police want to hire in the next four years will be a mix of police officers (16), special constables (11), and civilian employees (16).
Chatham-Kent has 142 police officers per 100,000 population currently, which is below the provincial average of 174, and the Canadian average of 184 per 100,000 people. The report says the police officer strength has not increased since 2018.
Councillor Ryan Doyle said hearing from constituents, there is a need for more police presence.
The presentation was for information, and to give time for council and the public to digest the information.
The police budget will officially be presented during next week’s budget deliberations.
