Our outgoing Mayor would like to see City Hall have more say over the local police force.
This week on Thunder Bay Votes: The issues that matter, keeping crime at bay.
Mayor Keith Hobbs wants to see changes made to the Police Services Act to allow municipal officials more of a role in police operations.
“We pay the freight. We pay police $34 to $36 million a year for their budget and really have no say. I would like to see a system set up where we could have an advisory board where council and the Mayor could have a say in how the community is policed.”
Hobbs feels more heads around the decision-making table would be a beneficial thing.
“After all the taxpayers are paying the freight, and another set of brains doesn’t hurt. I don’t think any Chief of Police or Inspector corners the market on smart.”
The Mayor would also like to see the future municipal government lobby for more funding for police so they can hire more officers.
Hobbs tells us when he was a watch commander with the local police they were always 30 calls behind at any point of the night. He indicates that number may be even higher now.
You can listen to his full statement on what can be done to improve crime in our community below.