Police Commission Chair Concerned Over Escalating Policing Costs

The escalating costs of policing are an issue facing municipalities across the world, and newly-minted Saint John Police Commission Chair Jonathan Franklin tells CHSJ News the expenditures in some areas are simply unsustainable. 

He says if we built high rises and concentrated the population of Saint John into a smaller area, we could cut our policing budget by half, but the fact is that we're spread out and that makes policing more complex.

Franklin had been scheduled to present a report on policing costs to common council, but the request was withdrawn after commission members raised concerns the report didn't represent their views. 

He emphasized the report wasn't personal, it was just a look at the facts, and there needs to be more discussion of the options.