Vancouver’s police chief is expressing a “fundamental concern” about an $8.5-million budget cut to the department approved by city council.
In an email sent Wednesday night and obtained by Global News, city officials notified Chief Adam Palmer of a motion that was passed that night in-camera to cut the police budget by one per cent to help offset the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The police department is an essential service, Palmer wrote in reply to city manager Sadhu Johnston, and while the department works with the city, it is governed by the Vancouver Police Board and “does not take ‘direction from council.'” “There was no consultation with the VPD on this motion nor was the VPD afforded the opportunity to address city