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