Pubdate: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 Source: North Bay Nugget (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 North Bay Nugget Contact: http://www.nugget.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2226 Author: Colin Vezina Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n470/a05.html?17327 NORTH BAY POLICE WORTH EVERY PENNY THEY EARN Re: Editorial, How much is too much (April 12) dealing with police costs and some officers of varying ranks earning $100,000 a year. Let's consider a few facts. When an officer is assigned, through necessity to spend hundreds of hours in investigating and gathering evidence, and working 12 hours or more a day, week in and week out, it doesn't take too long to hit $100,000. Some of this service is paid at time and one half. Meanwhile, the officer has given up Christmas dinner, or Thanksgiving, or Easter or a child's birthday party or an anniversary. But they don't complain. Were you to do the community comparables with respect to salaries, number of personnel, overtime costs, downloading costs by the province, salaries for sworn and civilian staff, the budget in general, you would find North Bay is right in the middle. As well, North Bay police have been playing catchup in salaries for the past 12 years. The board and the police association recently signed a three-year contract, demonstrating mutual respect and consideration. You are correct when you say there is a decline in criminal offences. Part of that is good police work. Part of it is presence in the public eye. Old-fashioned work. You say, while trivializing marijuana, that there is no "drug epidemic" in North Bay. Talk to the investigative section or the officers assigned to schools. Is a constable or a sergeant worth $100,000 in a year, you ask? Yes sir, and then some. We are fortunate to have the police personnel and the chief we have serving North Bay and Callander. Colin Vezina, Retired chairman, North Bay Police Board - --- MAP posted-by: Derek