As was expected since Mayor Brenda Locke and her team was elected on the platform to keep the RCMP in Surrey, the Surrey Council voted to keep the RCMP and get rid of Surrey Police after much delay due to drama by the provincial government to force conditions to keeping the RCMP even though they knew that ultimately the decision was Surrey’s to make which police force they wanted. “The RCMP has effectively policed this City since 1950. Their commitment and work to ensure public safety has never been an issue – not four years ago and not now. Surrey Council and I also have complete confidence in the Surrey RCMP and Surrey Police Service members currently policing Surrey. Under very trying circumstances, they have all continued to put their lives on the line to keep the rest of us safe. And they have done exceptional work. I want to thank each and every one of them. They are all welcome to continue policing in Surrey,” Locke said in a press release Friday.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – As was expected since Mayor Brenda Locke and her team was elected on the platform to keep the RCMP in Surrey, the Surrey Council voted to keep the RCMP and get rid of Surrey Police after much delay due to drama by the provincial government to force conditions to keeping the RCMP even though they knew that ultimately the decision was Surrey’s to make which police force they wanted.

“The RCMP has effectively policed this City since 1950. Their commitment and work to ensure public safety has never been an issue – not four years ago and not now. Surrey Council and I also have complete confidence in the Surrey RCMP and Surrey Police Service members currently policing Surrey. Under very trying circumstances, they have all continued to put their lives on the line to keep the rest of us safe. And they have done exceptional work. I want to thank each and every one of them. They are all welcome to continue policing in Surrey,” Locke said in a press release Friday.

“I also know that both RCMP and Surrey Police Service members deserve a final answer so they can turn the page on uncertainty and focus on their future and careers. Today they will have clarity. But the return to normalcy will take time, commitment and professionalism. The citizens of Surrey know that the police are all up to that challenge despite the emotions today’s decision will evoke among some. Similarly, the City of Surrey, the Province, the Surrey Police Service, the Surrey Police Service Board and the RCMP must all show the same qualities, as we work together to achieve a single and effective policing model in Surrey. That spirit of co-operative policing will have to carry on for some time.

“Surrey needs a final answer on policing and Surrey Council has decided, with a vote held yesterday, to retain the RCMP as our police force of jurisdiction. There is no question the decision on policing in Surrey rests with Surrey Council. The Premier and Solicitor General have confirmed this fact. Surrey Council and I were committed to making an informed decision. We signed the non-disclosure agreement with the Province and have reviewed the Ministry report and requirements, thoroughly. We asked our City staff to prepare a report supplementing the information within the Ministry’s report. It includes up-to-date financial information in terms of the transition costs to date on both policing options. As Council, we had a duty to examine both sides. The impacts of continuing with the transition are incredibly significant and had to be considered. Our report did exactly that and helped inform our resolve. Politicians and senior police leaders must commit to faithfully support the dedicated police officers on the streets of this City during the coming months.

“The Solicitor General has imposed a number of binding conditions on the City, which we fully intend to meet, however we require the cooperation of the Province to do so. Yesterday I spoke with both the Premier and the Solicitor General and am satisfied that they are prepared to work in the spirit of cooperation. Surrey Council and I want to stress the importance of working with the Provincial Government. It helps our City and our Province. As the Mayor of Surrey and the one that oversees this policing contract, I have very high expectations of the RCMP. I spoke at length with the RCMP Commanding Officer for British Columbia and the Officer in Charge of Surrey Detachment, and both have assured me they can, will and are already in the process of meeting the obligations that this dissolution of the Surrey Police Service places upon them,” Locke said.

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, said he must be satisfied that the City of Surrey’s plan will ensure effective and adequate policing is maintained in Surrey and throughout the province. Once staff have been able to review the city’s report, I will be able to determine if the plan achieves this objective, he said.

“The City of Surrey has offered their corporate report under a non-disclosure agreement. We will review all information provided by the city quickly to ensure that the people of Surrey remain safe,” Farnworth said. “We continue to require a comprehensive plan from the city to meet the requirements I laid out as necessary. In the absence of such a plan, this could quickly destabilize an already precarious situation in Surrey and significantly decrease police presence in other areas of the province.

Surrey First Councillor Linda Annis said Thursday’s behind-closed-doors council decision to keep the RCMP, and reverse the police transition, is “an insult to the people of Surrey”.

“It muzzled councillors and any open opposition,” Annis said, “It makes the decision a personal face-off between the mayor and the Province of British Columbia.”

Annis campaigned on having a policing referendum and questioned the fact that the city, province, RCMP and Surrey Police Service all had their “own numbers” around police transition. She added the whole issue reflects badly on city hall.

However, the Surrey Board of Trade said it was pleased with the final decision to retain the Surrey RCMP as Surrey’s Public Safety Infrastructure.

 “The Surrey Board of Trade is pleased with the final decision to retain the Surrey RCMP as Surrey’s public safety infrastructure,” said Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade. “Now we must work in a cooperative, professional and respectful way to focus on moving forward and paying proactive attention to other important economic and infrastructure priorities.”

The cost of rolling the transition back will be provided at a later date.