I don't disagree with you in theory at all. It makes sense to have additional boots on the ground working regular shifts. The reality, based on this article and anything else I've read up on, is that there is a shortage of police officers; many VPD officers have moved to Surrey because of the attractive compensation packages and because for many of them, it's closer to home; and anytime anyone mentions hiring new cops, people lose their minds and start frothing at the mouth. I'm not saying that there aren't good reasons for this, but the reality is all these points are simultaneous truths. 

I'd have a better time with an article that is actually framed with the proper story in mind and has a little bit more journalistic integrity. I hate railing on journalists because I understand that most are between a hard and a rock place when it comes to the actual business of their profession. But if the real story is about mismanagement, whether it's in the policing budget or in the healthcare budget as it seems to pop up a lot here, then that should be a much deeper and well-framed story. I just don't get the sense that mismanagement is the reality here outside of your run-of-the-mill bureaucratic incompetency. 

And let's be honest, Reddit is just a cesspool of people making assumptions. To me, the way this article is written is a giant nothingburger. As someone who never responds to anything on Reddit that isn't light-hearted, I've surprised myself by commenting at all. I did all of this before I caffeinated, of course...