Any criticism of Police Chief Bill Reid’s management of the police department’s budget is unwarranted according to the former Chair of the Police Commission.
Jonathon Franklin can’t understand why Mayor Mel Norton says the new chief has to get a better handle on controlling the budget.
Franklin dismisses the criticism of Reid’s management as “bloody nonsense” based on what happened when the Police Commission unanimously approved the contract agreement with the police union. Franklin says the Mayor went up to Reid after the meeting and congratulated him on his leadership and management skills.
Franklin says he decided to resign from the Police Commission because of his growing frustration with all the stuff that was going on.
He says the police department is incredibly efficient and innovative with its costs over five years rising at something like half a per cent a year but there is an unwillingness on the part of some members of Common Council to accept that.
