Halifax police asking for armoured vehicle in upcoming budget
CBC
Halifax Regional Police will ask for an armoured vehicle for high-risk situations in the upcoming city budget, but one policing expert is urging restraint when it comes to such tools.
On Friday, a Halifax city spokesperson said the municipal police force will put forward a request for an armoured vehicle in the 2025-26 capital budget that is similar to one that was approved in 2019.
In June 2020, council cancelled the $368,000 expense for that vehicle following George Floyd's death and protests about police brutality against Black people. Instead, council used the funds for the city's diversity and inclusion office, the public safety office and anti-Black racism programs.
Now, Halifax police are asking to buy a similar vehicle once again. It's unclear yet what it would cost or what the model would be.
A police spokesperson said in an email Friday that the armoured vehicle "would only be for the highest-risk situations."
"This is not a vehicle that would be seen on the streets regularly, but it would be an important tool in our toolkit so that we're prepared to respond to very serious events," said Marla MacInnis.
Currently, HRP calls in the Nova Scotia RCMP's armoured vehicle when needed. MacInnis said Monday the force has used the RCMP's vehicle about 10 times this year for things like firearm offences, high-risk warrant executions involving firearms, weapons or drug-related offences, or a barricaded person.
"It's a piece of equipment that is greatly needed and is long overdue," said Darla Perry, president of the Halifax police union.
Perry said she's been pushing for the force to get such a vehicle for more than a decade, and has filed an occupational health and safety complaint with the provincial Labour Department "to investigate why we don't have one."
"We don't go out on the street without armoured vests on. This is a ballistic shield that provides a level of protection between the police and the person they're dealing with, and the public and the person we're dealing with," Perry said.
CBC News asked the Labour Department when this complaint was received and whether any action had been taken, but did not receive a response by publication time.
Perry said HRP wants to buy a model similar to the Mounties' vehicle, given the integrated nature of Halifax RCMP and municipal police.
HRP uses the term "armoured rescue vehicle," which Perry said is more accurate because it can be used to pull officers or civilians from dangerous situations.
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