Halifax approves $150,021 stabilization transfer for police wages after chief warns of staff shortages

Police Chief John Shops told the special town meeting that the requested $150,021 would preserve basic patrol coverages and allow the department to hire or backfill after recent resignations. "Current staffing consists of 14 officers serving a community of approximately 8,000 residents," Shops said, adding that national benchmarks would place the department at 16–20 officers for that population and that losing additional officers would force closure of a midnight shift and increase overtime costs.

Chief Shops said the reduction already in effect and anticipated additional losses would reduce proactive policing, training time and the ability to staff special assignments such as the elementary‑school SRO. He also outlined approximate academy costs and backfill numbers: sending one officer to the academy (800 hours) plus backfill would be about $86,000; for two officers the figure would be about $173,000. After discussion, the meeting approved the stabilization transfer by the required 0.667 vote. The finance committee did not recommend the transfer, reiterating its general opposition to using one‑time funds for ongoing wages.