Halifax Regional Police (HRP) are looking to add 24 new positions in next year's operating budget, including a mental health officer and hate crime officer.

The 2024-2025 business plan and operating framework for the HRP budget was presented Wednesday evening during the Board of Police Commissioners meeting.

The budget for 2023-2024 was $94,622,400.

Halifax Police Acting Chief Don MacLean presented the budget, adding that cost increases on ammunition and equipment were factored into the budget. 

“What $500,000 got you in ammunition five years ago does not get you that today,” MacLean says.

The budget includes training for mental health calls for 12 constables, 18 more patrol officers and six officers for community safety. The constables specifically trained for mental health calls will also work with hospitals to reduce the HRP’s footprint at the patrol level by having only one officer guarding more than one person who is on IPTA, Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act. 

“It's an innovative program that attempts to address our patrol staffing numbers,” MacLean says.

The department is also looking to hire an officer trained to investigate hate crimes. The number of hate crimes reported in 2023 has already surpassed all of 2022, MacLean says.

“The current geopolitical environment is going to add to that even more,” MacLean says. 

The budget included a request to implement Body-Worn Video. Funding was approved in the 2021-2022 HRP budget for a 12-month term position to be allocated to Body-Worn Video work. This position was never filled and the body-worn video project has yet to move forward. The RCMP is moving towards implementing Body-Worn Video.

“Our policy should look pretty much the same as theirs,” MacLean says.

The department requested a motion to the board to provide direction and guidance on the proposed 2024-2025 Business Plan and Operating Budget Framework.

Discussions on the budget will continue at the next board meeting, which will be held virtually on Oct. 25.

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