The number of Waterloo Regional Police officers caught running red lights more than double in 2013.

A total of 27 such instances occurred at the 16 Waterloo Region intersections equipped with red light cameras over the course of the year, up from 12 in 2012.

Chief Matt Torigian says none of those instances results in crashes or injuries, and he’s not alarmed by the jump.

“In almost every instance, it is with the greatest of intentions that they are trying to get to an emergency call for service as quickly as they can,” he says.

“They’re doing it for the right reasons, but we still need to address it.”

When an officer is caught running a red light at one of those 16 intersections, discipline is doled out internally – but the police service picks up the tab for the fine.

“You can’t discipline them twice. You can’t punish the officer by having them pay and at the same time punish them or address that behaviour through a discipline case,” says Torigian.

That discipline can include verbal reprimands, written warnings and notes in their files.

Rather than running red lights, Torigian says he wants to see cruisers come to a full stop, activate their emergency lights and sirens, and only then proceed through the intersection.

Taxpayers shouldn’t be concerned about having to pay for the ticket, Torigian says, because the police budget comes from the Region of Waterloo – the same organization that receives revenue from red light tickets.

In addition to the red light infractions, WRPS officers logged 38 complaints from the community and 20 internal complaints in 2013 – both up from the year before, but less than the number of positive messages they receive.

Torigian says the complaints make up a small percentage of officers’ total interactions with the public.

“We have hundreds of thousands of contacts each year,” he says.

“We have incredible service levels in this organization and every reason in the world to hold our heads high.”

On the streets of Waterloo Region, not everyone agrees with Torigian’s assessment.

“I respect the law and I respect the uniform (but) I don’t always respect the man that wears it,” says Kitchener resident Rick Green.

“There’s a wall being built up. Some of them do go overboard.”

Waterloo resident Frances Mueller says she’s glad to see police out and about – although there were none in sight a few weeks ago, when she was nearly robbed.

“The one and only time they’re not there, I get robbed,” she says.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service currently employs 770 officers.