Dear Editor,
Re: Richmond Police Department: Local control versus added costs
Policing in Richmond deserves/requires consideration of the third option, — regional policing.
Apparently, it works with Metropolitan police in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg.
Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam have a combined RCMP service. We have recognized the necessity of combining jurisdictions into single (integrated) force efforts related to illegal drugs, homicide, gang activities, etc..
Why is it necessary to have a separate TransLink police force with all the associated duplication of administrative overhead and limited jurisdiction boundaries?
Why not a single integrated police force for the region? Imagine the efficiencies if a single police officer could investigate similar crimes on each side of Boundary Rd (Vancouver/Burnaby), process charges through a single court jurisdiction/crown prosecutor while avoiding the cross boundary complications, complexities and costly duplication of manpower. Note the similar multi-jurisdiction problems in the Victoria area.
Why is it necessary to appeal B.C. RCMP issues to Ottawa headquarters? Good luck! Why have the RCMP proven incapable of investigating the conduct of their own members with emphasis on the shameful tragedy at YVR regarding the Tasering of Robert Dziekanski, or the failed missing women investigations, abusive staff relations, contempt of parliament and RCMP pension mismanagement.
How many RCMP members/non RCMP police have been and are suspended with pay (actual cost) pending settlement of misconduct issues versus suspended without pay? How many RCMP/non-RCMP officers are on paid stress leave in B.C.? Perhaps each local police force and the RCMP could provide the number of regular and overtime hours with associated costs involved as court witnesses. Duplication/overlap costs are unknown. While attending witness activities, those same police are not present on the street.
Yes, we need changes. May I suggest it begin with regional management and accountability. We do not require duplicate policing costs associated with administration, training, operating standards, arbitrary boundaries and inter-force prejudice and rivalry issues.
Any serving police officer in the Lower Mainland could have full policing authority within the served region (not just their own community). Would anyone consider dividing the existing jurisdictions into smaller areas? I think not.
Regarding Mr. Assaly’s letter of Dec. 4 (“Change from RCMP too costly”), can we afford not to change the model? Any chance the recently retired Mr. Jim Chu (VPD police chief) might consider the regional challenge? It is a lot to ask.
Ken McLennan
Richmond
