Will they or won't they? Policing in Surrey a political football
The ongoing battle over the Surrey police transition could become more complicated – and may have other cities thinking twice before considering a similar move – after a mayoral candidate pledged to wind back the clock if she’s elected.
On Friday, Brenda Locke told reporters that “it’s not too late” to keep the RCMP and disband the Surrey Police Service, which has been working alongside Mounties as it hires officers and support staff over a years-long transition period.
“We believe this transition must stop and it must stop as soon as we are elected,” said Locke. “It's going to cost $521 million on top of what we already are paying for police services and it will take four more years.”
The SPS disputes Locke's claim. It directed CTV News to its website, where $63.7 million is cited as the one-time transition cost over a five-year period.
“We remain supportive of the democratic process, apolitical in our response to provide public safety and to continue the transition as endorsed by the three levels of government,” wrote an SPS spokesperson.
WILL THE PROVINCE PLAY A ROLE?
The number of officers, their roles in their community, and exactly how police should approach calls involving mental health issues have been under scrutiny in most B.C. municipalities, and determining resources and responsibilities can happen much faster than changing a badge.
Most communities in British Columbia use the RCMP by default and require provincial approval on the rare occasion they’ve decided to form, finance and oversee a municipal service.
CTV News asked the provincial solicitor general’s office if he would quash the transition if a new mayor and council requested he do so, or if he would maintain the current course. The former would likely come with significant potential for confusion, increased taxpayer costs and operational challenges.
"Government refrains from commenting on the debates that are taking place during municipal elections, including speculation on the potential actions of future councils,” wrote a spokesperson in response.
SPS NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY
The SPS has rankled other municipal police forces and unions in the Lower Mainland, who have seen it as poaching officers. There also haven’t been as many Mounties switching uniforms as the mayor had expected.
The transition was behind schedule when the incoming SPS chief and Surrey RCMP commanding officer held a joint news conference to discuss their officers working side by side last November.
“We’re here to stay,” declared SPS Chief Const. Norm Lipinski, at the time.
According to the SPS website, the force is now the second-largest municipal force in the province, after the Vancouver Police Department, with 274 sworn police officers hired and 53 civilian employees.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.