B.C. police watchdog gets $2M funding boost to hire staff, cut investigation times
After flagging a staff shortage and lengthy investigation times earlier this year, B.C.’s police watchdog says it’s catching up.
In recent months, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has hired 12 new investigators. Less than half of them are former police officers, said IIO chief civilian director Ron MacDonald.
“We’ve been able to solidify both the retention and recruitment of investigators here with increases in salaries to make us more competitive,” MacDonald told CTV News.
The province gave the IIO a $2 million budget lift for this fiscal year to fund 13 new positions, including seven in investigations.
The agency also received $500,000 to increase the average annual salary for investigators from roughly $90,000 to $110,000, MacDonald said.
“That is helping us meet the caseload,” he said, noting it has grown significantly in the past few years.
Investigation timelines have shrunk by about 40 per cent, shaving months off of investigations, which can take years.
"It has helped with the morale of the team,” MacDonald said.
“This year we've only had two resignations out of our investigative staff, which is the lowest number I think ever for this type of timeframe. So we're very encouraged by our current situation."
The IIO is working on filling five more positions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Man throws flaming liquid on New York City subway, burns fellow rider
A man set a cup of liquid on fire and tossed it at fellow subway rider in New York City, setting the victim's shirt ablaze and injuring him.
At least 9 dead in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after severe weather roars across region
Powerful storms killed at least nine people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where drivers took shelter during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
As Canada warms, infectious disease risks spread north
Cases of Lyme disease have now increased more than 1,000 per cent in a decade as the warming climate pushes the boundaries of a range of pathogens and risk factors northward.
12 people injured after Qatar Airways plane hits turbulence on way to Dublin
Twelve people were injured when a Qatar Airways plane flying from Doha to Dublin on Sunday hit turbulence, airport authorities said.