Hiring a Vancouver police officer to work at a Canadians baseball game or a rock concert is expected to get more expensive for companies and groups requiring cops at their events.
A report that goes before the Vancouver Police Board Thursday recommends hourly “charge out rates” for officers be increased by four per cent. That means the rate for a constable could jump from $122.11 per hour to $127.01, while an inspector’s rate could reach $203.21 from $195.38.
The rate includes overtime, the cost of the vehicle, equipment, uniform, clerical support costs and any future overtime expenses that could result after the event, including court costs. The report doesn’t specify how much pay a constable or inspector would take home after a shift.
“The charge out rates for providing police services needs to be updated for 2017 by four per cent to ensure costs are fully recovered for wages and all related uniform, vehicle, and other costs,” said the report, noting the increase will better reflect recent pay increases to officers. “The 2016 rate increase included only an estimate of the potential Vancouver Police Union rate increase at the time and was inadequate to fully recover for the wage rates resulting from the VPU wage increases. An implementation date of January 1, 2017 will allow the VPD adequate time to notify clients of the charge out rate changes.”
Aside from monitoring crowds, police assist in planning, security and traffic control.
“The VPD does not charge event organizers an additional amount for vehicles or specialized equipment that may be required with the exception of the Marine Squad where an hourly fee is set for the use of a vessel,” the report said.
Rob Fai, the director of communications for the Vancouver Canadians baseball club, said the organization hires VPD officers for all 38 of the team’s home games. Fai was aware of the proposed increase for the service but said “sometimes you’ve got to pay for the best.”
“We’ve always had a good experience with [the police],” he said by telephone from his office at the stadium. “They keep the place really safe during baseball games. We’ve got 6,500 people in an open air venue, so it’s always great having them here. It’s one of the things that we don’t want to take shortcuts on. Public safety is obviously our priority here at the ballpark.”
Other events officers work includes Vancouver Canucks games, concerts, parades and marches. Organizers of fundraisers and movie production companies also require police to work at events. The report points out the officers are working overtime and not attached to regular police duties.
The Courier contacted the Canucks Wednesday but had not heard back before this story was posted.
If the police board approves the new rates, the VPD will continue to be one of the most expensive departments in B.C. to rent its officers to agencies requiring police services. The new rate would mean it would cost an event organizer $762.06 to hire a VPD constable for three hours.
In Port Moody, the cost is $836 to hire a constable for three hours, while Abbotsford charges $785. The West Vancouver Police Department is the best deal at $630 for three hours. All rates include the costs of police vehicles.
The police board meets at 1 p.m. Thursday at the VPD’s Cambie Street precinct.
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