Vancouver to get lots more police

The Vancouver Police Department made its million-dollar argument for more manpower yesterday -- and it paid off to the tune of 96 extra uniformed officers.

Council agreed, with some grumbling, to meet what Insp. Adam Palmer called a "very lean request."

Forty-eight of the officers will be hired next year, and 48 the year after. The phased-in approach will allow for training before deployment.

All of the first group will head into uniformed street patrols while some of the second hirings will be used on investigative teams.
 
The decision to do the extra hiring came after a joint committee of city and police department staff presented the results of a 21/2-year review of its operations. Palmer suggested the work had cost as much as $1 million.

Palmer said none of the hiring is related to the 2010 Olympics, although it's important to get staff levels up in times for the Games.