Council blesses police recruitment vehicle purchase
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
- Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
*Your next Free Press subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/11/2024 (720 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Brandon City Council endorsed the Brandon Police Service’s future purchase of a vehicle for recruitment purposes up to a cost of $125,000 at its Monday meeting.
Coun. Barry Cullen (Ward 3) said the vehicle purchase was discussed at the in-camera portion of last week’s Brandon Police Board meeting and that a motion authorizing the purchase.
According to Cullen, the vehicle would not be used in any substantial part for law enforcement. He said it would be made up to look like a “four-wheeled advertisement.” Instead, it would be used to help spur recruitment as BPS stares down a long list of officer vacancies by travelling to events both inside and outside of Brandon.
Coun. Barry Cullen (Ward 3) provides an update from last week's Brandon Police Board meeting during Monday's Brandon City Council meeting. Council voted to give its blessing to the purchase of a police recruitment vehicle at a cost of up to $125,000. (Colin Slark/The Brandon Sun)
To improve the vehicle’s carbon footprint, Cullen said the board would like to see it be a hybrid or electric vehicle.
The purchase had to be approved by the board as it was not part of Brandon Police Service’s approved 2024 budget. Though the board is independent from city council, Cullen said they wanted council to be aware of the purpose and grant its blessing for it.
As he understands it, Cullen said the vehicle would be paid for through a projected operational surplus.
Council unanimously signalled their support for the purchase when voting to accept Cullen’s report.
New BPS Chief Tyler Bates said at last week’s police board meeting that BPS is projecting a $741,000 surplus for 2024, largely due to staffing vacancies.
Cullen also said that Greg Hebert had been promoted to serve as deputy chief to Bates. Hebert formerly served in the rank of inspector and was temporarily acting chief after the retirement of interim chief Randy Lewis until Bates started his role.
The next police board meeting, the last for 2024, will be on Dec. 13 at noon on the second floor of Brandon City Hall.
Councillors Shawn Berry (Ward 7) and Glen Parker (Ward 9) were absent from the meeting. Police board chair Deb Arpin was present for the discussion over the vehicle purchase.
» cslark@brandonsun.com
» X: @ColinSlark