NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
**********************
On Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, Niagara Regional Council approved the Regional Municipality of Niagara Police Services Board 2019 operating and capital budgets.
With a 6 per cent increase, it is the result of extensive review and consultation by the Police Service Board and the Service which has resulted in an overall operating budget of $146,714,214 as well as a capital budget of $3,088,500.
"As we continue to see the rising demands of policing, there is a correlating rise to the cost of policing. There is no denying we are seeing the combined impact that mental health, addictions, poverty and homelessness are having on police resources" said Niagara Regional Police Service Chief Bryan MacCulloch.
Encompassed in the overall operating budget, some service additions for the community of Niagara include additional officers in the Sexual Assault Unit, the creation of a Human Trafficking Unit, two additional School Resource Officers, and two officers dedicated to foot patrol in Downtown St. Catharines.
In an ongoing commitment to member mental health and wellness, the NRPS is also adding a fulltime Corporate Clinical Psychologist to the Service.
In addition to the approval of the 2019 Operating Budget, the NRPS has also now received approval from Regional Council to move ahead with the new building to house 1 District (St. Catharines) at Welland Ave and Geneva Street with a $2.9 million in building costs. Completion of the building is anticipated by the fall of 2021, which also concludes the long-term facilities process started in 2009.
"The approval to proceed with the building of our new 1 District facility is great news for our Board, Police Service, for Niagara Region and for the residents of St. Catharines and Thorold," said Police Services Board Chair Ken Gansel. "We look forward to working with the Niagara Region, Merit Contractors Niagara Ltd., and our community partners as we move forward in developing a building that will not only provide our residents, but also our Service members with a new building that will meet the future needs of our Police Service and the communities we serve."
*********************
