MONCTON, N.B. — The cost of additional policing in the aftermath of last June's murder of three RCMP officers has been estimated at $9 million.
Coun. Charles Leger, a member of the Codiac Regional Policing Authority, said in an interview that the numbers were released at the authority's meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
The city councillor said the regional policing authority will absorb $3.5 million in costs, with $1.5 million of that coming from a special contribution from the City of Moncton, and the towns of Riverview and Dieppe.
The costs included the investigation of five different crime sites, the salaries of additional police officers, the cost of overtime for backfilling while officers were on leave, as well as meal and accommodation costs during the emergency.
In October, Justin Bourque was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 75 years after pleading guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in the wounding of two officers.
The 25-year-old Bourque used a semi-automatic rifle to shoot the five officers in the city's north end on June 4, and set off a 30-hour manhunt that drew in officers from around the region.
Leger said Ottawa is providing $1 million under policing agreements with the province, while police services that sent in officers have absorbed $1.5 million in costs, and the province is absorbing other costs.
The councillor said the expenses didn't include the costs related to the regimental funeral, which were covered by the federal government.
"There was a lot of co-operation in everything that happened," said Leger.
"When the shooting occurred, resources poured in and there were no questions asked and when it came time to tally up the financial costs those same parties were there again."
