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Commissionaires: should they stay or go?

SURREY - Following the tragic murders of hockey mom Julie Paskall and teen Serena Vermeersch in Newton, there was public outcry for more boots on the streets.

 

Part of the RCMP's solution was to kick off a Community Safety Patrol pilot project, which began last April.

 

The city signed a contract with BC Commissionaires to provide 10 uniformed personnel who would conduct regular patrols in the area, but who do not carry guns. They were initially intended to focus on Newton following horrific events in that neighbourhood.

 

Surrey's police chief doesn't want to renew the contract, but city council said the public seems to take comfort in having more eyes on the street.

 

During Monday's police committee meeting (Feb. 16), Surrey RCMP Chief Supt. Bill Fordy said there are a number of operational issues and risks in having the Commissionaires working for the RCMP.

 

While Fordy acknowledged the personnel provide a level of reassurance to the community, he said there has been no significant reduction in crime trends, and he has concerns about the city being liable for the workers.

 

Situations could arise, he explained, that Commissionaires staff are not properly trained or equipped to handle. These issues were magnified by recent attacks on uniformed law enforcement and

 

Surrey RCMP Chief Supt.

 

Bill Fordy said there are a number of operational issues and risks in having the Commissionaires working for the RCMP. (File photo)

 

military personnel in Canada and abroad, he said.

 

Fordy is also concerned about the limited powers the officers have, and the community's expectation that they could address situations, not just observe and report.

 

But council didn't seem keen on seeing the Commissionaires go.

 

Coun. Barbara Steele said residents seem to like the "visibility on the streets" they provide.

 

"We put it there to kind of ease the minds of citizens and once we take it away, I think we might have that concern back again," Steele said. "The fact that they couldn't pull a gun or defend anybody seemed to be sort of inconsequential.... I just don't want to see people think we've removed everybody from Newton and we're going right back to where we were."

 

Coun. Tom Gill also expressed concerns.

 

"When I do go to Newton, I have my son play hockey there, it's a really good feeling to see some of those Commissionaires around there on their bikes, so certainly they are having an impact in terms of the community," Gill said. "So really what I'm advocating for is certainty around when that transition happens... I need to see the bodies replacing the other bodies."

 

Council has referred the matter back to staff to address these concerns.

 

areid@thenownewspaper.com

 

20 COPS COMING TO SURREY IN NEXT SIX WEEKS

 

Last October, the police committee endorsed a recommendation to increase the Surrey RCMP from 703 to 803 officers.

 

During Monday's police committee meeting, Fordy said 20 of those officers would be arriving in Surrey in the next six weeks.

 

He said some cadets were redeployed to Ottawa for two months following the shootings at Parliament Hill that took the life of

 

Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, he explained, but they are now starting to arrive in Surrey.

 

"In three to six months they would become essentially suitable and capable of going out by themselves," Fordy said.

 

Amy Reid