Expect a new swell of blue in Vancouver as the city's mayor pledged to add nearly 100 officers to Vancouver's police force.
Eight months before a municipal election, Mayor Sam Sullivan vowed to deliver nearly 50 officers this year and next year before the 2010 Olympic Games.
"We have 2010 in the horizon, and there will be more responsibilities, more pressure put on the police department," said Sullivan.
"We need to ensure that our police have all the resources possible and I think it's the right decision."
Some 48 officers will be hired in 2008, and then another 48 the following year, for a total of 96 police officers. There are 1,231 authorized officers in the city right now.
Each round of additions will cost the city $5 million -- or the equivalent of a one per cent tax increase.
The new officers will walk the beat, but will also join homicide investigations and anti-gang teams.
"This is truly excellent news for all citizens in Vancouver," said Vancouver police chief Jim Chu. "We know more police officers means less crime."
The challenge will be to find enough recruits to fill the slots, he said.
The increase is thanks to a change in heart from Sullivan, after two years of voting against requests from police.
For example, last year the police asked for 65 officers and were given 17.
But Councillor Raymond Louie, who has recently announced his own candidacy for the Vision Vancouver nomination for mayor, said that the mayor's motives were transparent.
"Now, because it's an election year, he has decided, 'I'd better get on board,'" said Louie. "I'm happy we're getting the resources necessary to properly staff our police department but the mayor is very late in the day."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Janet Dirks
