Recommendations suggest new powers for chief of police

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/04/2020 (1745 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg’s police chief could gain new powers to raise fees for special duty policing, in an attempt to ensure officer wage hikes don’t cut in to the revenue.

The special duty program allows officers to be contracted out to provide security at special events and stores, as well as some traffic escorts.

Officers can complete such shifts during their time off, with the city charging about $116 per hour per constable.

A new recommendation to city council calls to give the Winnipeg Police Service’s chief the ability to increase that fee beyond the rate of inflation each year, since annual police wages now exceed inflation.

For example, the inflation rate rose by 1.6 per cent in 2017, while officer wages rose 2.5 per cent under a collective agreement, writes Alana Odokeychuk, a member of the WPS organizational development department, in the report. Inflation also rose 2.4 per cent in each of 2018 and 2019, while wages rose 2.5 per cent in each of those years.

“Having this authority would allow the service to more effectively recapture the costs incurred providing special duty policing,” writes Odokeychuk.

Currently, a city bylaw allows the chief financial officer to raise the special duty fee by an amount “up to the rate of inflation” each year, as determined by the consumer price index.

The report says the change would ensure hourly salaries for special duty officers are “tied to the agreed-upon salaries ratified in the collective bargaining agreement” for police officers, which the city negotiates.

Winnipeg Police Service did not grant an interview request on the topic Wednesday.

Coun. Kevin Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood), chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, said he agrees the bylaw should be altered.

“I think it’s actually very good management on the part of the service … (This will) ensure that taxpayers aren’t having to cover the discrepancies, if we got to the point that there were discrepancies (between the fees and hourly wage),” said Klein.

The change would require council approval.

The special duty hours, which are considered overtime, have proven increasingly common in recent years. Late last year, WPS Chief Danny Smyth said he’d warned some retailers that police were concerned officers could burn out if the level of demand continued.

The comments came after 310 special duty officer requests were filled in October, followed by 373 in November. At least 481 were expected to follow in December.

— Joyanne Pursaga