Legal fees for Transit Police are so high because of the new Police Act.
So says Spokeswoman Anne Drennan in the wake of costs released by request to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
The numbers show Transit Police spent $ 8,000 dollars on fees in 2008.
But in 2010, with the new act, that soared to $ 180,000, and to $ 300,000 in 2011.
That last figure is how 2012 is looking as well.
Drennan says the act granted the Police Complaints Commissioner more power — so officers are now under much heavier scrutiny.
“As a result, when they have been in an incident, they’re considering and often obtaining legal advice. As a police department, we’re required to provide legal services to our members as directed by the collective agreement.”
Drennan says it’s not a change in Transit Police behaviour, but the Commissioner being involved in more cases.
Jordan Bateman with the taxpayers group, however, says the numbers raise some questions.
“The questions are what Police Act violations, or alleged violations, have been investigated? What’s the status of those investigatons? Have any of those officers been disciplined for those Police Act violations?”
Drennan adds other police agencies have experienced the same rising costs.
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