Pubdate: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Jodie Emery WASTE OF TAX DOLLARS I was disturbed to read "Banners beckon new cops." This police recruitment and hiring campaign is a waste of our tax dollars. In these uncertain economic times and with crime rates at their lowest point in 30 years, how can Vancouver police and the RCMP justify spending $46,000 to $74,000 on thousands of new police officers over the next few years? We can hardly afford Vancouver's most urgent essential services, such as emergency housing and transit. Why not reorganize and restructure police, just as other organizations and businesses must do? They should allocate their resources more efficiently. A start would be to immediately stop arresting and processing thousands of people every year for simple marijuana possession. What a waste of money and resources. Don't they have more important work to do? Jodie Emery, Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake