The Sault Ste. Marie Police Services board has approved what Robert Keetch, Sault Police Service chief, calls a “bare bones budget” for local policing in 2017.
The board, at its meeting Tuesday, approved a proposed $26.5 million budget for next year, an increase of 1.17 percent over 2016.
Thanks to revenue brought in by police, the actual impact to Sault taxpayers would be approximately $24.1 million.
Keetch did not provide copies of the proposed budget document to reporters at Tuesday’s meeting, preferring to approach city council with budget details first.
“It concerns me greatly. We’ve gone as lean as we can go,” Keetch told the board.
If a major crime were to occur, the cost of investigating that crime “would put us over budget and the money would have to come from the city somewhere,” Keetch said.
“In this budget we can’t absorb a long-term homicide investigation,” Deputy Chief Sean Sparling told the board.
Police are operating with a bare bones budget as the number of break and enters increase.
“We’ve rededicated two officers back to the break and enter unit,” Keetch told the board.
A total of five officers serve with that unit.
“They’re doing a phenomenal job and making significant arrests but there is an underlying issue associated with property crime and violent crime in this community, and that’s the issue of illicit drugs, a significant problem in regard to fentanyl, methamphetamines and heroin,” Keetch said.
Police are targeting dealers in those types of drugs.
“We are having greater success with these types of targeted projects in the level of seizures, the quality of targets arrested and the results in court,” Deputy Chief Sparling told SooToday in an email received after Tuesday’s board meeting.
At the same time, the proposed 2017 budget contains a $10,000 request from police for equipment for officers (specifically, respirators) and training in how to handle the chemicals involved with drugs.
“Specifically dealing with the increase in fentanyl, methamphetamines and heroin, our Service has had to invest in training and equipment for our officers. These drugs are very dangerous and pose a significant risk to our officers when they seize them…some of these drugs can be absorbed through the skin,” Sparling stated.
Sault Police may also begin posting maps of crime hot spots on the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service website as a way of alerting the public as to where break and enters and robberies are happening, Sparling told the board.
Meanwhile, Keetch is urging the public to be sure to lock their vehicles and homes to prevent criminals from stealing property to support drug habits.
The proposed budget approved by the board Tuesday is ultimately subject to city council’s approval.
Keetch hopes to bring the budget before council in November, with finalization in December.