Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

RCMP officers' group says Mounties shouldn't be 'scapegoats' in police shortage

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Jul, 2023 02:14 PM
  • RCMP officers' group says Mounties shouldn't be 'scapegoats' in police shortage

The voice for almost 20,000 RCMP says its members should not be used as "political pawns" in the dispute between the British Columbia government and the City of Surrey over its policing situation. 

Brian Sauvé, the president of the National Police Federation, says in an open letter to Premier David Eby that the government's lack of funding has led to staff shortages and it's unfair to blame the Mounties for not filling their vacancies.

The staffing vacancies were a key reason the B.C. government had recommended the City of Surrey continue its transition to an independent police force, despite the newly elected mayor's promise that the city would go back to the RCMP for its policing. 

The provincial government is expected to announce its decision Wednesday on whether Surrey will be allowed to abandon its transition to a municipal police force and revert to RCMP. 

Sauvé says in the letter that Eby's recent attention toward RCMP recruiting is "valid and even appreciated," and the Mounties have seen no shortage of experienced police officers wanting to join.

He says the province hasn't properly funded the growth of the RCMP and last year's $230-million commitment to hire 277 more officers still leaves B.C. short 242 officers from what is the fully authorized strength of 2,602 Mounties.

The letter says B.C. hasn't increased its authorized police strength since 2012, despite ongoing population increases, creating an environment where fewer officers must serve more people. 

"We ask all leaders to please remember that our RCMP Members are not political pawns and should not be used as scapegoats for over a decade of provincial underfunding of the B.C. RCMP or shifted around on a policing chessboard with no say in their positions and postings. 

"Our Members serve their communities every day, put their lives on the line, have families and children rooted in those communities, and should be treated as people, not uniforms," the letter says. 

Attorney General Mike Farnworth has said part of the government's recommendation for the city to continue its transition to the Surrey Policing Service was a safety issue, as he cited 1,500 staff vacancies across the province. 

Sauvé's letter says RCMP recruitment is recovering from the pandemic slowdown and has had an average of 220 applications a month from B.C. over the past five months. 

It says there is also interest from experienced police officers joining the Mounties, with more than 80 new RCMP officers in B.C., with many more in training. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Port Moody arson damages turf field

Port Moody arson damages turf field
Port Moody police say firefighters were called to the Trasolini Field just before midnight on May 26th after a group of young people was seen using an accelerant to light the field on fire before fleeing the scene.

Port Moody arson damages turf field

Vancouver fire lands man in hospital

Vancouver fire lands man in hospital
Vancouver firefighters say a man suffered life-threatening injuries in a fire that broke out early Monday morning on West Sixth Avenue. The fire service says a 34-year-old man was taken to V-G-H with serious and life-threatening injuries.

Vancouver fire lands man in hospital

City of Vancouver speeds up housing construction

City of Vancouver speeds up housing construction
The City of Vancouver says it's made significant changes to speed up new housing construction by moving to clear a backlog of applications. Mayor Ken Sim says the changes voted on yesterday by council will streamline the application process and speed up new housing construction city-wide. 

City of Vancouver speeds up housing construction

Surrey RCMP on the lookout for 2 men facing firearms offences charges

Surrey RCMP on the lookout for 2 men facing firearms offences charges
Surrey R-C-M-P say they want the public's help locating 25-year-old Terry MacDonald and 26-year-old Joseph Gregory, who are both wanted for allegedly breaching their bail conditions. Investigators say McDonald is five-foot-six, weighing 150 pounds, while Gregory is six-foot-two and 220 pounds, and both men are considered armed and dangerous.

Surrey RCMP on the lookout for 2 men facing firearms offences charges

Vancouver council announces Komagata Maru street name to address historic wrongs

Vancouver council announces Komagata Maru street name to address historic wrongs
Canada Place will get the second name to acknowledge historical discrimination against South Asian communities. The Komagata Maru docked near the current location of Canada Place in 1914 with 340 Sikh, 27 Muslim and 12 Hindu passengers on board, most of whom were denied entry into Canada despite having valid travel documents. 

Vancouver council announces Komagata Maru street name to address historic wrongs

Runaway Bus gets away and ends up on lawn of a house

Runaway Bus gets away and ends up on lawn of a house
Police in West Vancouver say a bus got away from a driver trying to fix a door problem in Horseshoe Bay today. Police say as the bus began to roll the driver fell out. The bus ended up on the front lawn of a house.

Runaway Bus gets away and ends up on lawn of a house