London Police have proposed a budget of $672 million for 2024 to 2028. The budget submitted by London Police Chief, Thai Truong, has caused controversy among London Residents. Londoners took to City Hall on Tuesday to protest the proposed budget.
London councilors met last Thursday to discuss the budget. Ward 9 councilor, Anna Hopkins, attempted to reduce the police budget by 5 per cent, but was outvoted by other London councilors.
Matthew Planta, a graduate of Fanshawe’s police foundations program says the budget will be a good thing.
“I believe it’s a great thing for London to be putting that much amount of money into the police budget. In the future, there will always be a need for police officers, and London putting a certain amount of money into hiring new police officers, helping them out, helping the community out it’s going to be a great thing.”
Planta says the controversy is to be expected.
“There will always be a difference of opinion in the community. Some saying that that money could be put towards something else and others would say it’s a great thing for London to do.”
The police budget, which includes a $492 thousand light armored vehicle has yet to be approved by Mayor, Josh Morgan; However london.ca states that Josh Morgan says he will not be vetoing any council approved amendments.
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