Chief Blair told by civilian board to consider police layoffs

Confronted with the possibility of a $1 billion operating budget next year, the Toronto Police Services Board is considering police layoffs to cut costs.

The civilian oversight board has asked Chief Bill Blair to investigate the safety impact and possible savings associated with reducing the force by 500 officers. Earlier this year, Blair agreed to delay the hiring of 200 officers in order to balance the 2011 budget.

At a Monday board meeting, Blair presented his preliminary 2012 operating budget of $969.7 million (net) — a 4.2 per cent increase, about 85 per cent of which is tied up in salary and benefits.

Board vice-chair, Councillor Michael Thompson, said later Toronto may be forced to follow the lead of many American police services and lay off officers.

“It’s something we have to look at if we want to address the issue about the police budget (and) in the case of policing, 90 per cent of the policing cost is the bodies,” said Thompson.

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