Bill Moore, a former deputy chief of Halifax Regional Police, has a new civilian job working as the executive director of HRM’s new public safety business unit.
Moore retired from HRP in 2017 to become the executive director of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. He’s recently been working with the municipality as a project manager on a report looking at HRM’s unique joint policing model, with HRP and RCMP.
During this year’s budget process, Halifax regional councillors voted to put more money into public safety outside of policing.
Public safety advisor Amy Siciliano asked councillors for funding to hire 11 people. Councillors later approved that spending, and the new employees, at a cost of $361,100 in 2023-2024, will support Siciliano in implementing her updated Public Safety Strategy.
Chief administrative officer Cathie O’Toole announced a new public safety business unit, internally, on March 10, municipal spokesperson Maggie-Jane Spray said in an email Tuesday. On March 20, the municipality hired Moore to run that department.
“There was no internal or external competition for this position,” Spray said.
“Given Bill Moore’s unique and extensive experience in community safety, as well as the urgent need to set up this business unit, the CAO determined that a competition was not required. Additionally, Bill was formerly under contract as the Public Safety Project Lead on the Policing Transformation Study, and this role can be considered an extension of that contract.”
Moore has signed on for two years. After that, the job will be posted, Spray said. Asked how much Moore will be paid, Spray gave a range of $176,950 to $222,710.
“We do not release employee salaries unless it is part of the annual salary disclosure,” Spray said.
I perceive this to be a manifestation of the ongoing abrasive relationship between RCMP and Halifax police. Probably not exclusively but largely. There needs to be a mandate of how to de-RCMP policing in HRM and move to the much more responsive model of community policing by HRP and away from the “only the big stuff” model followed by the RCMP. No significant collaboration in active policing and total failure of policing in this city from many perspectives. Just try, TRY to get through on the non-emergency line. It is like winning a lottery. Then if and when you get through, good luck getting anywhere if you matter involves something from both jurisdictions. HRP needs to take over in areas like Cole Harbour and Sackville etc. RCMP need to stick to 100 series highways and truly rural areas.