Close X
Thursday, November 28, 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

168 Street and Fraser Highway closed due to fatal crash: Surrey RCMP

168 Street and Fraser Highway closed due to fatal crash: Surrey RCMP
The intersection of 168 Street and Fraser Highway is closed in all directions and traffic is being rerouted. Fraser Highway is closed westbound at 176Street and 168 Street is closed northbound just south of Fraser Highway. 

168 Street and Fraser Highway closed due to fatal crash: Surrey RCMP

Auditor General largely praises B.C. COVID-19 tourism supports, cites 'minor' shortfalls

Auditor General largely praises B.C. COVID-19 tourism supports, cites 'minor' shortfalls
Michael Pickup says there were "minor inconsistencies" with the otherwise well designed and implemented destination development grant program that handed out more than $41 million in 2021 and 2022. Pickup says 12 of the 106 projects that received money were missing notes from reviewers detailing the rationale for their decision and while due diligence was done, it wasn't well defined.

Auditor General largely praises B.C. COVID-19 tourism supports, cites 'minor' shortfalls

B.C. government to provide additional $25 million for marine restoration projects

B.C. government to provide additional $25 million for marine restoration projects
Environment Minister George Heyman told a news conference Tuesday that debris from more than 4,600 kilometres of shoreline has been removed so far, while creating more than 1,700 jobs. He says the new funding will allow the initiatives to continue to protect the coast and the communities that live there.

B.C. government to provide additional $25 million for marine restoration projects

B.C. housing non-profit at heart of controversy names interim CEO

B.C. housing non-profit at heart of controversy names interim CEO
Atira says its new CEO Catherine Roome is an experienced leader in both the public and private sectors and will head the organization until a permanent replacement for Abbott is found. Atira board chair Elva Kim says recruiting Roome is part of its effort to "restore public confidence" in the housing provider after Abbott's departure earlier this month.   

B.C. housing non-profit at heart of controversy names interim CEO

'Serve all Albertans': Smith says UCP majority government to focus on economy

'Serve all Albertans': Smith says UCP majority government to focus on economy
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says it’s time to put personal and political attacks in the “rear-view mirror” and focus on the province’s economy. Smith’s United Conservative Party won a majority government in Monday’s provincial election. 

'Serve all Albertans': Smith says UCP majority government to focus on economy

BC Ferries to reduce congestion at Horseshoe Bay terminal

BC Ferries to reduce congestion at Horseshoe Bay terminal
To encourage more travellers to use the mid-Island link between Tsawwassen and Duke Point, a number of saver fares will be offered, including one at 39-dollars for a vehicle and driver -- a roughly 50 per cent savings.

BC Ferries to reduce congestion at Horseshoe Bay terminal