Meeting heats up as Morantz and deputy police chief fire questions at each other
Morantz pointed out there are 200 officers in Winnipeg currently eligible for retirement
Tension rose as city councillor and chair of the City of Winnipeg's finance committee Marty Morantz and Winnipeg police Deputy Chief Art Stannard fired questions at each other in a Thursday morning meeting between police executives and the city.
Morantz began by asking how many officers the Winnipeg Police Service needs and how many it has employed.
He voiced concerns over staffing, pointing out there is room within the service to cut back on spending.
"[There are] 200 officers that are eligible for retirement that have not decided to retire. Looks to me like the department has ample staffing and could find some serious savings without compromising service and that's really the issue," Morantz said.
He noted the WPS recently ended a security contract with Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, which freed up 25 officers.
Stannard replied by questioning whether Morantz and the finance committee have the jurisdiction to request that information, frustrating the city councillor by not answering questions.
"But I think it's a fair question to ask the police service are there any efficiencies to be had in your budget?'" Morantz said.
"Their budget is the largest portion of the city budget and it's going up faster than any other budget, so I'm simply asking the question."
Stannard told Morantz he wants to cooperate, but police answer to the recently formed police board, not the city's finance committee.
"I'm the chair of finance, and you're the largest department. I'm going to keep asking my question. And you can choose to be here or not but I'm going to keep asking them and you guys can sort out how you get me the answers," Morantz replied, incensed.
Stannard only told Morantz the police service has reduced an upcoming recruitment class by 25 positions.
Following the meeting, Morantz told reporters all departments must help the city work with what he called an extremely challenging budget for 2015, and all other departments are being asked to cut back.