Chief's report on defunding the police is 'a 2-page letter,' say local advocates

Supporters of defunding the police say they're disappointed by a two-page "letter" Chief Eric Girt will present this week about reducing the Hamilton Police Service budget by 20 per cent.

Girt will present a scant report to the board Thursday saying a 20-per cent cut would mean cutting $34.3 million, including money earmarked for traffic safety, victim services and street outreach. It would also cost 279 sworn officers.

"Any staffing reductions would have a significant impact on the frontline as increased workload and responsibilities would be shifted to them," he wrote. 

The report falls short of what some local activists wanted to see as a starting point. The movement wants some functions of the police service — wellness checks, for example — dispersed to other community agencies, and police to either focus on core crime-fighting functions, or the whole model replaced with a more community-led one.

Girt touches on that idea, but says cutting police shouldn't be the first step.

"In order to achieve proper transition of [services] to other agencies, the appropriate infrastructure and legislation needs to be put into place before the responsibilities are removed from police."

The movement also wants more money diverted to what it says are core contributors of crime, such as addictions, mental health services and affordable housing.

Kojo Damptey, interim executive director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI), says this "two-page letter" barely touches that.

"If they've been tasked to write a report, it should come with some level of seriousness, context, research and analysis, and none of that happened," he said.

The board asked Girt for the report in June. Chad Collins, board member and Ward 5 (Centennial) councillor, moved the motion. He said in his comments that he wanted the community to see why a 20-per cent cut was a bad idea.

His constituents, he said, want more policing, not less.

"I think those people who are advocating for those reductions need to know what they're asking for," he said then. 

"It's my own opinion that providing less resources for the police prevents or prohibits them from doing their job properly, and ultimately leads to reduced public safety."

HPS wouldn't comment on the report Tuesday, saying only that "the chief will be presenting on the topic at the police service board on Thursday."

Gachi Issa, a member of HWDSB Kids Need Help, agreed that the report leaves "a lot left to be said."

'Community teach in' will coincide with the board meeting

"As a community, we were expecting more due diligence," she said. "But this report shows to us that a 20-per cent reduction is more than possible. So we are firm in our belief."

"This is a possible, realistic vision."

Sabreina Dahab said another report in the agenda — one suggesting a 14-month pilot program for body-worn cameras — would add another $5 million to the budget over five years. 

"It seems like, from this two-page report, there isn't an actual interest in defunding."

HWDSB Kids Need Help is holding an event from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday called "Community Teach In: Why We Should Defund The Police." The event will be in the city hall foyer and include talks from academics and group conversations.

The board meeting will start at 1 p.m. and streamed online.