Dear Editor,
I’ve been weighing all sides of the debate recently regarding the future of policing in Richmond.
I like to understand the various views and different interests involved by reading the Richmond News’ articles and opinion pieces before commenting as an informed resident who cares about our city.
“Is there really a policing problem in Richmond?” one writer states.
Obviously, we could debate forever whether there is a problem but the real question is, are the best interests of Richmond residents served by our current policing model?
This has to be weighed by a number of criteria, including financial costs, measures of crime management and reduction along with other cost-benefit metrics.
Overall, it appears Richmond is charged an average and some would say reasonable cost for the service provided.
The Richmond RCMP, by the statistics provided, appears to do a fairly good job of keeping the peace.
So the question may not be so much one of a “problem,” but rather improving policing for the future as our city continues to expand rapidly.
I appreciate current city council taking a proactive approach to look into the future of what Richmond needs and when we do so, other factors, some of which are not so easy to quantify but just as important become essential for consideration.
One factor is the average age or length of service for officers and how this relates to level of experience and impact on policing provided.
I believe the average length of service is quite low and my own antidotal observations would support that.
I’ve heard Richmond is regarded as a great training place for new officers.
Great for the RCMP, not so great for the long-term needs of any community where experience within the community is very important to understanding the dynamics, history and cultural aspects of a complex and growing city like Richmond is.
Secondly, council has identified input to decisions and control over the local force as concerns. Is this a problem?
I would suggest yes and no.
Yes, clearly Richmond does have some input to RCMP decisions but no, they don’t appear to have meaningful control over a variety of governance issues.
Finally, if having a local police force is such a bad option, why have Delta, Vancouver, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, Abbotsford and many other municipalities with their own local police forces not gone back to policing by the RCMP?
It’s easier to build trust and strong, collaborative relationships with officers who are part of the longer-term fabric of our community than simply considering these officers as numbers who can be transferred in and out at any time based on the changing needs of Ottawa.
As my father, a long-time RCMP officer once told me, the RCMP was always intended to be a federal police force, much like the FBI in the United States, and was never intended to do urban policing. As urban communities grow, a local force is important to developing deep connections within the community, which is essential for effective local policing.
Sage advice from someone who spent 24 years serving with the RCMP in numerous roles.
By moving to a local police force, the RCMP would still have an important role to play with regard to many federal policing matters in Richmond but day-to-day policing which involves regular interaction and contact with residents, businesses and the community at large, would remain with the local force and result in deeper ties within our community, helping Richmond unify as not just as a city but as a community.
So, “is there really a policing problem in Richmond?” Ah, if only everything could be put into such a simplistic question.
The city is engaging with residents for feedback and a decision will need to be made.
It takes courage to make difficult decisions like this that will benefit Richmond long into the future.
I hope our city councillors will consider not just the data or facts but qualitative aspects as well before moving Richmond into the future and not getting stuck in the past.
Jerome Dickey
Richmond
