‘Sometimes the overtime goes up’: Winnipeg police spending jumps

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This article was published 01/10/2023 (1069 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Crime and COVID-19 are being blamed for a nearly 30 per cent annual increase in overtime spending by the Winnipeg Police Service.

The WPS’s recently released 2022 statement of revenues and expenses reveals spending jumped in a variety of areas.

The force spent $1.7 million, or 28 per cent, more in officer overtime hours, spending $7.7 million in 2022 compared to about $6 million in 2021.

Police spending on “conferences involving travel” leapt 970 per cent, rising to $190,026 in 2022 from $17,810 in 2021. Spending on “luncheons, receptions and events” also rose to $51,898 from $23,195.

Expenditures for “training/workshops with travel” almost doubled, to $508,180 in 2022 from $238,825 in 2021.

Computer software expenses also soared by 800 per cent, to $807,818 from $89,721.

Overall, the police service spent a total of just under $329 million in 2022, compared to $321.4 million the year before.

After revenues are factored in, including $22.4 million in provincial grants, the police service cost Winnipeg taxpayers $278.6 million, up from a total of $268.6 the year before.

Gage Haubrich, Prairie region director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said some of the numbers are concerning.

“Crime is one of the biggest issues facing Winnipeg right now,” Haubrich said. “To see money spent on conferences and trips is definitely concerning.

“Taxpayers want to see if they are getting value for this spending. They would be fine if the spending is on fighting crime.”

Haubrich said the COVID-19 pandemic has shown many meetings can be held virtually instead of going to the expense of flying somewhere to gather.

“With crime on the rise, the police have to show these investments are worth the spending,” he said. “Is it being spent to make the streets safer?”

Mayor Scott Gillingham said city council approves the budgets of every civic department and all are expected to stay within the financial lines.

“The police are certainly no different,” Gillingham said Friday.

“When it comes to policing, depending on crime levels or number of homicides or crime investigations that have to take place, police for years have consistently explained to citizens of Winnipeg and elected officials that sometimes the overtime goes up.”

Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River), chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, said overtime hours are down 13 per cent so far this year, compared to 2022.

“Overtime use is impacted by the volumes of homicides, major critical incidents, traffic fatalities, and overall increases in violent crime, coupled with the complexity of investigations,” Chambers said. “In 2022 and 2021, we saw higher than average homicides in the city that would have impacted OT. Currently, we are at 27 homicides in the city.”

WPS spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said overtime is also affected when officers are working with other emergency service organizations, including the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and provincial health-care providers.

“When partners of the WPS are also facing critical staffing shortages, demand for the service is compounded,” she said.

McKinnon said spending on travel and training workshops jumped after pandemic restrictions were removed.

There was “no travel during the pandemic… so there had to be catch-up on mandatory training, in particular,” McKinnon said. “This was the same for the return of events and receptions.”

The report also shows sick leave dropped more than $700,000, or 35 per cent, to $1.2 million from $1.9 million.

McKinnon explained police spent more on computer software because of new and expanded programs, adding they were mainly funded by forfeitures of property in criminal cases.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca