Surrey city council has voted to retain the RCMP as its police of jurisdiction.
In what she called a 害羞草研究所渞eturn to normalcy害羞草研究所� in the city, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke made the announcement during a press conference that became testy Friday morning at city hall.
害羞草研究所淪urrey 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,害羞草研究所� she said.
Locke said council made their vote during a 害羞草研究所渟pecial council agenda害羞草研究所� Thursday (June 15) during a closed meeting, which, combined with the non-disclosure agreements signed by council, means the mayor could not disclose who voted and how they voted.
However, public safety minister in Victoria that the NDA covers the material that was redacted in the first report and that it害羞草研究所檚 up to council to decide if they want to disclose how the vote went.
As such, it is unclear if Coun. Rob Stutt voted during Thursday害羞草研究所檚 in-camera meeting. On Tuesday, the Surrey Police Union, representing Surrey Police Service officers, called on Stutt to on policing in Surrey, a situation that would have potentially jeopardized the Surrey RCMP害羞草研究所檚 tenure as the city害羞草研究所檚 police of jurisdiction.
Surrey mayor making an announcement about policing in Surrey this morning (June 16) at city hall.
害羞草研究所� Surrey Now-Leader (@SurreyNowLeader)
In February, the union filed a complaint with the commissioner alleging conflict-of-interest on Stutt害羞草研究所檚 part. Its president Rob Stewart issued a statement charging that Stutt voted to end the transition to Surrey Police Service from the Surrey RCMP without disclosing that his son is employed by the Surrey RCMP and his daughter is seconded from the City of Surrey and assigned to the RCMP. Nor did Stutt recuse himself, Steward stated.
After taking a few questions during Friday害羞草研究所檚 announcement, the mayor害羞草研究所檚 staff tried to end the press conference but that was met with resistance from one frustrated reporter, who decried a lack of information from the mayor.
Locke then answered several more questions.
When asked about costs to retain RCMP, Locke said those numbers weren害羞草研究所檛 available but added, 害羞草研究所渙bviously millions.害羞草研究所�
Meanwhile, Surrey First Councillor Linda Annis called Thursday害羞草研究所檚 behind-closed-doors council decision to keep the RCMP 害羞草研究所渁n insult害羞草研究所� to the people of Surrey.
害羞草研究所淚t muzzled councillors and any open opposition,害羞草研究所� Annis said. 害羞草研究所淚t makes the decision a personal face-off between the mayor and the province of British Columbia.害羞草研究所�
She said the in-camera meeting is not a good look when transparency has been an ongoing issue throughout the transition process.
害羞草研究所淐ouncillors were only told late Wednesday about the in-camera meeting, when we were handed a 400-page city staff report and given only hours to read it,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淣o transparency, no community involvement, no agreement between the city and the province on the facts. It was followed by yesterday害羞草研究所檚 rushed in-camera meeting that muzzled all of us who were there.害羞草研究所�
Annis, who campaigned on having a referendum on the divisive issue, said the whole issue was bungled from the start.
害羞草研究所淲hen it comes to policing and the police transition, we did it all wrong, and our taxpayers are on the hook to pay the bill with nothing to show for it.害羞草研究所�
I害羞草研究所檓 stunned and disappointed in this short sighted decision.
害羞草研究所� Jude Hannah (@studiojude)
Surrey needs its own Police Force.
The fiscal irresponsibility of this whole mess is going to haunt Surrey for years. Reversing this decision with the amount of money that had already been invested was asinine, even if you think the decision to create an SPD in the first was also wrong.
害羞草研究所� Gord Randall (@GARandall)
Mission Accomplished.
害羞草研究所� Jack Hundial (@JackHundial)
Thank you and Council for keeping public safety first and foremost.
The Surrey Board of Trade said Locke害羞草研究所檚 announcement means the city can hopefully move on.
害羞草研究所淭he Surrey Board of Trade is pleased with the final decision to retain the Surrey RCMP as Surrey害羞草研究所檚 public safety infrastructure,害羞草研究所� said Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman. 害羞草研究所淣ow we must work in a co-operative, professional and respectful way to focus on moving forward and paying proactive attention to other important economic and infrastructure priorities.害羞草研究所�
The next steps will be critical for Surrey, she added.
害羞草研究所淲e will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure the transition back is efficient so that the business community can receive the best public safety service possible.害羞草研究所�
With files from Tom Zytaruk
newsroom@surreynowleader.com
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