Halifax police want funding for new civilian roles in $101M budget
Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean presented a proposed operating budget of $101.2 million for 2025-26 to the Halifax board of police commissioners, requesting funding for seven new civilian positions. The budget, which is 3.3% higher than the previous year, includes roles focused on domestic violence support, such as two new Victim Services positions. One of these roles will be a caseworker dedicated to assisting victims of domestic violence, while the other will be an offender navigator tasked with working with high-risk offenders to prevent further harm.
MacLean emphasized the importance of building civilian capacity to address critical issues within the police force. He highlighted the need to address high-risk domestic cases and cases with critical developments where offenders have reoffended, which have been on the rise since 2018.
In addition to the roles in the Victim Services unit, the budget includes positions such as an auditor, quartermaster, administrative support for cadet classes, forensic media specialist, and manager for return-to-work programs and employee assistance. These new positions aim to streamline operations and free up sworn officers to focus on core policing duties.
The budget also allocates funds for the introduction of body-worn and in-car cameras, with staffing and software support costing approximately $857,500. The implementation of these cameras is expected in early 2026, with the budget for the project set to increase to $3 million in the following fiscal year.
The board of police commissioners will defer discussion on Halifax RCMP’s budget, which includes a request for 14 new officers in various positions across the region. Public input on both police budgets will be sought at a virtual meeting on Jan. 8, 2025, before the board’s final decision. The recommendations will then be presented to regional council for approval as part of the larger budget process.
Overall, the proposed budget for Halifax Regional Police reflects a commitment to enhancing civilian support services, addressing domestic violence issues, and implementing new technologies to improve policing operations in the region.
