OttawaThe cost of absences and accommodations keeping Kingston Police officers from front-line duty is expected to hit more than $7 million next year — a situation one official compared to “shoveling money into a black hole.”40 staff members, many with PTSD, likely non-deployable for front-line dutyDan Taekema · CBC News · Posted: Nov 28, 2025 2:08 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Kingston Police Chief Scott Fraser said long-term absences are a problem that’s only getting worse for forces across the province. (Dan Taekema/CBC)The cost of absences and accommodations keeping Kingston Police officers from front-line duty is expected to hit more than $7 million next year — a situation one official compared to “shoveling money into a black hole.”That figure is more than double the $3.3 million increase the force is requesting in its entire 2026 budget, according to director of finance Scarlet Eyles.”It’s kind of like … a growing snowball going downhill, where the absences just keep increasing, and we’re never actually able to invest in the police,” she said.Forty officers are expected to be on long-term absences, receiving accommodations or on another type of leave next year, according to a budget report.Eyles said covering their salaries and benefits is projected to cost $7.3 million.In 2025 that number was around $5.9 million with 31 non-deployable officers, the board heard.In Ontario, if a first responder is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it’s presumed to have been caused by their work.Those kinds of cases make up the majority of absence and leave costs in Kingston, the board heard.”This data … correlates with the evolving challenges of policing, including heightened exposure to traumatic events and increased awareness and reporting of mental health issues,” the report said.The Kingston Police Service Board discussed the growing budgetary problem caused by absences and accommodations during its meeting on Thursday. (Dan Taekema/CBC)Those figures also include police officers who have been suspended, such as Deputy Chief Matt Funnell, whose removal from his role was first made public in December 2024 and is still ongoing.Ontario’s Sunshine List shows he earned $226,724 that year.The growing absences means even when the Kingston Police hire new officers, the force is just treading water rather than actually increasing the number of police on the street.”It looks like we’re adding bodies … but really we haven’t added anybody because they’re just offsetting people that are off,” Eyles said. “It’s actually extremely challenging.”‘It’s not getting better,’ says chiefKingston Mayor Bryan Paterson, who sits on the board, called that problem the “number one standout” in the budget.”Two of the top issues in our community right now are the cost of living and public safety, and this issue is making it incredibly challenging for us to be able to balance both of those things,” he said.Police Chief Scott Fraser said long-term absences have been an issue for services across the province since at least 2016.”It’s only getting worse,” he said. “It’s not getting better.”Kingston Police Service Board Chair Gail MacAllister and Mayor Bryan Paterson listen to a presentation during the meeting. (Dan Taekema/CBC)Adam Koven, a local real estate agent and member of the board, said some other forces in Ontario employ wellness officers, suggesting it’s something Kingston Police could explore.Kings Town Coun. Greg Ridge also called for strategies and resources to cut back on attrition.Otherwise it’s like “shoveling money into a black hole,” he told his fellow board members.”We want police officers to do well. They have a very difficult job, and their job is essential,” Ridge said in an interview with CBC.”These budget pressures will continue to increase, and it … already is affecting the quality of service that we’re seeing.”On Thursday the police board approved a more than $57 million operating budget for 2026, which will now go before city council for deliberation.ABOUT THE AUTHORDan Taekema is CBC’s reporter covering Kingston, Ont. and the surrounding area. He’s worked in newsrooms in Chatham, Windsor, Hamilton, Toronto and Ottawa. You can reach him by emailing daniel.taekema@cbc.ca.Follow @DanTaekema on Twitter
Snowballing officer absences expected to cost Kingston Police $7.3M next year
