The proposal includes $150 million for public safety, and an additional $471 million in the capital budget. Among the expenditures:
$24 million for grants for community-based organizations’ victim advocate and anti-violence work
$3 million for the Citizens Police Oversight Commission
$45 million in capital funds for a new police forensics laboratory
$15 million for 200 new police cars, 75 of which will be unmarked
An amount to be determined to hire 400 more police officers, including about 100 community police officers
In her budget announcement, Parker emphasized police hiring, bringing two new police recruits to stand alongside her. “My One Philly Budget supports deploying more officers in the field — walking the beat, riding a bike, getting to know the people they are sworn to protect and serve — the core of our community policing model,” she said. She praised the police officers who worked in her Pennsylvania House district, upholding them as a model of policing that relies on trust. “They knew every store owner, every rec leader, every youth sports leader,” she said.