Pubdate: Fri, 14 May 2004
Source: Eastern Door, The (CN QU)
Copyright: 2004 The Eastern Door
Contact:  http://www.easterndoor.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2464
Author: Kenneth Deer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Kanehsatake (Kanehsatake)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police)

HIGH COST OF POLICING IN KANEHSATAKE

Many people are asking what is the cost of the Kanesatake Mohawk Police as 
the force grows in size. While the actual figures are not public, one can 
get a close approximation based on a draft budget made up last year for a 
three-month operation for Kanehsatake.

In a document dated August 19, 2003, and titled 'Kanehsatake Drug Operation 
- - approximate cost for a three-month drug operation,' one gets a good 
insight into the cost of the current KMP operation.

According to the document, officers are allowed $59.40 a day for meals. If 
there are 38 officers currently on staff, then the cost is $2,257.20 per 
day or 15,800.40 per week.

Accommodation estimates were based on $69 per day at the Comfort Inn. 
Assuming it is two officers to a room, 14 rooms per day would cost $966 or 
$6,762 per week.

Travel estimated at four trips home for 25 officers during the three months 
would cost $237,360 according to the document.

Salaries were divided into two categories: the first six weeks at double 
time and the second six weeks at time and a half.

The draft budget estimated that 13 officers from Listugui for the first six 
weeks would cost $255,608 or 3,277.03 per week for each officer. It sounds 
a little steep but those are the estimates.

These numbers do not necessarily mean that the officers of the KMP are 
getting these salaries but it was considered at one time that this is what 
it would have cost to have them in Kanehsatake for three months.

The totals in the draft budget for three months were $124,740 for meals, 
$237,360 for travel, $98,532 for accommodations, salaries for the first six 
weeks at double time $638,472 and salaries for the second six weeks at time 
and a half $463,828 for a grand total of $1,562,932.

How much of this draft budget can be applied to the current operations in 
Kanehsatake is open to question but it can be safely assumed that the cost 
of 38 officers is about $100,000 per week.

This does not cover capital expenses of new vehicles and other expenses. A 
request for information from the KMP on actual costs was not answered at 
press time.
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MAP posted-by: Thunder