$53M for regional police, say local mayors

By Kevin Diakiw - Surrey North Delta Leader - March 26, 2008

Federal policing dollars should go toward regional crime-fighting initiatives, say local mayors, who are taking a position contrary to several other leaders in Metro Vancouver.

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan led the charge this month indicating $53 million promised by Ottawa for public safety in B.C. should go to beat cops. Without it, he’ll be forced to raise taxes in Vancouver to pay for the 96 officers he’s promised this year.

Sullivan’s call for more beat cops was echoed by Mayors Wayne Wright (New Westminster), George Ferguson (Abbotsford) and Allan Lowe (Victoria).

However, Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts is urging her colleagues to take the long view.

“At the end of the day, we all need police officers,” Watts said, but she added the crimes on the rise are homicides and gang-related offences which are handled by regional integrated policing teams.

“I think from the 30,000-foot level, you’ve really got to look at what’s been happening.”

She’s spoken with federal and provincial solicitors general and they agree the money should go toward tackling gangs, organized crime and murderers.

“The integrated units, like IHIT (Integrated Homicide Investigation Team), the gang task force, border integrity, all of those integrated units would help the entire region and the province,” Watts said. “You’ve got to stop the flow of weapons coming in from the United States, you’ve got to stop the influx of cocaine, this is why they’re warring on the streets.”

Mayors from Delta and Langley agree.

Delta isn’t currently part of IHIT, but Mayor Lois Jackson said Monday she’s hoping council will next year vote to join the team.

In the meantime, Jackson said the federal money should go toward the most serious regional concerns, and that means murders, gangs and drugs.

“I believe we were told there are now 125 identifiable gangs in the Lower Mainland,” she said. “Something has got to give here, and I think the $53 million (going to those investigations) has got to stand us in good stead.”

City of Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender points out if the federal money goes to integrated policing, it takes pressure off of municipalities that finance the regional squads.

“My view of it personally is, that by using the money towards IHIT and some of the some of the integrated (teams), it does help us because it reduces the costs on our budget,” Fassbender said.

Watts said at the end of the day, cities have to do what’s best for the people they serve.

“I believe that my city will be safer when we have the police dealing with the organized crime issues and the gun-related violence,” Watts said.

dferguson@surreyleader.com

Email | Print | Letter to Editor | Share on Facebook

$53M for regional police, say local mayors

Most read in your Region

Most read across BC