Apr
28
When the police ask for an increase in their annual operating budget, we should be asking what they spend their money on, particularly when it demands some 40% of the entire resources of the city.
Every week we are treated to images of the police's new weapon in the fight against crime, the black & white Dodge muscle car. Police scoff at criticism defending their spending choice of the Dodge Hemi Charger with comparisons to the Ford Crown Victoria police package, the Chevrolet Impala as if those are the only choices.
Within these times of fiscal restraint, the largest police departments in North America have opted for less expensive to operate, more fuel efficient vehicles, trading the perceived cool for more police officers, recognizing more boots trumps more wheels.
It is difficult to understand the spending priorities of VicPD who then turn around and ask for an increase of $2 Million plus in order to hire more officers.
It seems to me if the priorities were in order they would follow suit with their larger counterparts, and placed the priority on the most valuable resource.
What a waste of Victoria taxpayers' money, what with already high tax rates.
William Perry