RCMP Deputy Commissioner Brenda Butterworth-Carr, Commanding Officer of the BC RCMP, is criticizing Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum’s media release on Friday’s deadly shooting in the 14200-block of 70A Avenue in Surrey.
“(The) tragic shooting outside of a home in Newton is yet another example of the ongoing trauma and fear that are being inflicted on the communities, residents and families of Surrey,” wrote Mayor Doug McCallum in a statement following the killing of a 22-year-old man early Friday morning.
McCallum also said that “This latest incident of deadly gun violence further emphasizes the need for the City of Surrey to have its own city police force.”
Butterworth-Carr said in a statement Friday afternoon that with a “homicide of this nature” people are already reluctant to come forward.
She went on to state that the Surrey RCMP and Lower Mainland integrated police teams remain responsible for and committed to ensuring public safety.
“Until Surrey RCMP is no longer the contracted police service, our employees must be allowed to and will continue to police safely and effectively. I will not allow public confidence in policing to be undermined or eroded,” she wrote.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth also responded to McCallum’s statement on Friday.
“No one is putting up any roadblocks,” said Farnworth. “We are prepared to work with the mayor. He has to be willing to work, too. A new police force isn’t created over the weekend, but the province is committed to working with the city as they move forward.”
READ DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BRENDA BUTTERWORTH-CARR FULL STATEMENT
Earlier today, the Surrey Mayor issued a statement about a homicide in the 14200 block of 70A Avenue that occurred at 1:30 AM today.
The homicide is believed to be a targeted event and while the exact motive is still being determined, our investigators say the victim is associated to the region-wide Lower Mainland gang conflict. As citizens in the region – I am one too – we are alarmed when there is gang violence on our streets. It erodes our sense of safety and our feeling of community.
The fact that a 22-year-old man has been murdered is terrible. I feel for the family and for the residents of the Newton neighbourhood in which this incident took place. Right now, the Surrey RCMP and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) are focussed on finding out who murdered this young man.
Statements like this risk undermining public trust and confidence in policing. With a homicide of this nature, people are already reluctant to come forward. Any erosion of public trust and confidence challenges our ability to solve complex cases with assistance from people who are often reluctant to participate in the first place. This concern is not unique to any one police force.
The Surrey RCMP includes the expertise of several Lower Mainland Integrated Teams including the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), Emergency Response Team (ERT), Integrated Forensic Identification Services (IFIS), Integrated Police Dog Services (IPDS), Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) and the Integrated Collision Analysis Reconstruction Services (ICARS). These all provide crucial services to the nearly two million people the RCMP serves in the Lower Mainland.
As the Commanding Officer of the BC RCMP, I want the public to know that the Surrey RCMP and the Integrated Teams, made up of officers from the RCMP and independent municipal police departments, will continue to work diligently to maintain public safety.
Until Surrey RCMP is no longer the contracted police service, our employees must be allowed to and will continue to police safely and effectively. I will not allow public confidence in policing to be undermined or eroded. I wish to assure all those engaged in delivering police services to Surrey that they have my utmost trust and confidence.
Deputy Commissioner Brenda Butterworth-Carr
Commanding Officer of the BC RCMP