Vancouver police budget increased by nearly half a million dollars for beach booze pilot
The Vancouver Police Department has added another $450,000 to its financials, growing the department’s budget for this year to over $415 million.
The additional funding was approved by Vancouver City Council Tuesday as part of a pilot project allowing alcohol on seven beaches in the city.
On Monday, the park board requested a total of $930,000 from the city to operate the pilot, with $450,000 allocated for policing.
Park board commissioner Tom Digby voted against Monday’s motion for the pilot, calling an increased police presence in parks and beaches alarming.
“To me, that was fairly disturbing because I don't think that’s consistent with what we think of in our parks,” he said.
According to data from the VPD, it’s seen an increase in violence at beaches since 2018. At Kitsilano Beach, reported violent incidents increased from four in 2018, to 12 in 2023.
At English Bay, violent calls increased from six in 2018 to 28 last year. The VPD adds that during that five year-period, overall calls for service slowly declined both city wide and at the two beaches.
VPD Inspector Marco Veronesi said last year, the department didn’t have enough time to properly plan for the pilot.
He said the city’s funding is overtime pay for twelve officers who will work mostly nights and weekends.
“We want to keep people safe, and unfortunately sometimes that takes dollars to do,” he said.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Coun. Pete Fry asked Veronesi if the VPD was sufficiently resourced to respond to incidents that happen on the beach on a Friday or Saturday night with regular shift deployments.
Veronesi replied yes, adding the VPD has a dedicated beach deployment in District One – which includes the neighbourhoods of the West End, Yaletown, Coal Harbour and the Central Business District of Vancouver.
“They [council] need to ask us and we need to be able to answer to why we’re asking for resources above what our normal budget is,” Veronesi said. “In this case here, this is a pilot that’s happening in the middle of the year that we weren’t able to adjust for during budgeting process last year.”
Green councillor Adriane Fry said she was reluctant to see the increased funding for police and questioned the report -- calling some of the stats about 311 calls in the report contradictory.
“At one point there’s a statement made that 311 calls in 2023 only resulted in 19 complaints. Later on it talks about how those numbers have increased,” she said.
Veronesi said four officers will be deployed at southern beaches and eight will be deployed at northern beaches such as English Bay, despite it not being part of the alcohol pilot project.
“The deployment of more officers at English Bay is an education piece,” he said. “It’s sort of getting the city socialized to what’s allowed and what’s not allowed.”
The pilot project will begin June 1 and run until the end of September.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi still missing after helicopter accident in mountains
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
Ottawa driver who appeared to be racing another vehicle on Highway 416 facing charges
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says an Ottawa driver is facing charges after being caught going 187 km/h on Highway 416.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Canadian immigration asks medical worker fleeing Gaza if he treated Hamas fighters
Lawyers are questioning Canada’s approach to screening visa applications for people in Gaza with extended family in Canada after one applicant, a medical worker, was asked whether he had treated members of Hamas.
Diddy admits beating ex-girlfriend Cassie, says he's sorry, calls his actions 'inexcusable'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs admitted Sunday that he beat his ex-girlfriend in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack, saying in a video apology he was 'truly sorry' and his actions were 'inexcusable.'