Most prices are rising but the cost of policing in West Vancouver may have dropped last year over 2012.
West Vancouver's police officers who earn $75,000 or more received a total of $8.2 million in 2013, or $133,000 less than in 2012.
The number of officers making more than $100,000 also dipped, with 49 officers making six figures in 2012 compared to 41 in 2013.
The change may be caused by "accounting differences," according to department spokesman Const. Jeff Palmer, who explained that an officer getting his salary through the Workers' Compensation Board wouldn't show up in the books.
Former Chief Constable Peter Lepine was the top wage earner for both 2012 and 2013, earning $193,000. Lepine retired earlier this year and was replaced by former Abbotsford Police Department Chief Constable Len Goerke, who took over Aug. 5. Insp. Michael Rattray, who resigned shortly after Lepine, following a 35-year career in law enforcement, earned $161,000 in 2013.
Both departures were preceded by an internal report that pointed to dissatisfaction by police officers and civilian employees with senior management at the department.
Expenses claimed by officers who earn $75,000 or more dipped by $10,000 in 2013, going from $118,640 in 2012 to $108,601. Most of that drop is attributable to Lepine, who claimed $16,687 in 2012. He claimed less than half that amount ($8,225) in 2013.
Most expenses go towards attending training sessions or conferences outside the department, according to Palmer.
Expenses varied wildly in 2013, with one constable claiming $2,479 in expenses and another claiming $4.05. "Every expense is captured," Palmer said.
Re-certification training, which is done within the department, is not included among expenses, according to Palmer.
Including salaries and expenses for the district's top-earning officers, West Vancouver taxpayers saved $143,453 compared to 2012.
The dip in expenses comes as Canada's crime rate continues to dive - the violent crime severity index plunged by 10 per cent in 2013 compared to 2012.
When ranked from worst to best according to the violent crime severity index, West Vancouver was ranked 215 out of 304 Canadian municipalities. The North Shore's three major municipalities each witnessed a decline in crime rates compared to 2012.
While salaries slid among WVPD officers, the number of District of West Van municipal hall employees earning a six-figure salary shot from 66 in 2012 to approximately 104 in 2013.
The majority of that increase is due to retroactive salaries, as well as employees who only worked part of 2012, according to communications director Jeff McDonald.
