Police Officers and Mental Health Nurses Referral

Summary

• Motion to allocate $4.5M in the 2023 operating budget to enable the Vancouver Police Department to hire 100 new police officers, and $1.5M to enable Vancouver Coastal Health to hire 100 new mental health nurses, to expand joint mental health programs (Car 87/88, ACT Teams, Assertive Outreach Team).
• Mayor to write to the Vancouver Police Board and VCH Board formally advising of Council's intention; funding conditional on acceptance of hiring and deployment plans.
• Context: BC's Director of Police Services ruled in 2022 that the VPD was wrongly denied $5.7M in its 2021 budget; the mental health and addiction crisis was cited as requiring a substantial escalation in response.
• Referred unanimously to the Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities (November 16, 2022) for public speakers, debate, and decision.

Vote

Documents

• Motion – Enabling the Requisitioning and Hiring of 100 New Police Officers and 100 Mental Health Nurses