A Vancouver police sergeant received $239,258 in overtime pay last year, in addition to a base salary of up to $158,000, according to information obtained by CBC News. The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) disclosed a growing trend over three years of more officers earning double or more of their regular pay through extra hours, contributing to the force exceeding its budget by millions of dollars.
Green Party Coun. Pete Fry expressed concerns about the significant overtime earnings, calling for transparency. VPD spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison noted that the top overtime earner was an exception, and various duties like backfilling patrol vacancies, protest policing, special events, and investigations could have led to the high overtime payouts.
Apart from the sergeant, seven constables received over $140,000 in overtime in 2024, doubling their top salary. Additionally, 47 VPD officers were paid $100,000 or more in overtime, a significant increase from previous years. The VPD is projected to surpass its budget for the second consecutive year, with overtime costs being a major factor.
Former Vancouver Police Board member Faye Wightman raised questions about the oversight of overtime expenditures and the necessity of the number of officers deployed for various tasks. Total overtime spending in 2024 amounted to $39 million, a notable 50% surge from 2022.
Criminologist Josh Murphy highlighted the sustainability concerns of the escalating overtime costs, emphasizing potential burnout and health issues for officers. However, Sgt. Addison defended the department’s overtime practices, stating that most extra shifts are based on officers’ preferences and there are measures in place to prevent exhaustion.
The release of these figures coincides with challenges in Vancouver’s budget management, with Mayor Ken Sim aiming to freeze property taxes in the upcoming budget. The VPD is facing a projected $8 million overspend from the approved budget for 2025, largely attributed to various factors necessitating increased spending, including protests, Task Force Barrage initiatives, and maintaining service levels.
The VPD’s recruiting materials emphasize the abundant opportunities for overtime work, outlining different types of overtime activities in their Regulation and Procedure Manual. Planned overtime, which includes events like fireworks and movie shoots, can be reimbursed through contracts with event organizers.
While acknowledging the necessity of additional officers for public safety, concerns have been raised about the growing police overtime costs in Vancouver and across Canada. Efforts to address these issues include auditing overtime practices and exploring regional solutions to share policing costs more effectively.