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No money for more officers but tons of cash for city hall?

Surrey - Re: "Keep politics out of policing, Watts," the Now letters, Feb. 18.

I completely agree with Ivan Scott about the issues surrounding policing and Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts.Watts has been a tremendous mayor of Surrey since 2005.She has made commendable advancements that benefit both the city as well as its citizens.However, as an aspiring police officer, her stance regarding policing and crime prevention seems off to me. In an article from January 2014, Watts said she'd "hire 100 officers tomorrow if city had the money" and yet she told a newspaper in 2003 the city could use 100 more police officers. Surprisingly enough, the city also had enough money to build an 180,000-square-foot city hall with a price tag of $97 million.And after a recent tragedy that occurred in Newton, the mayor has suddenly remembered to think of crime reduction strategies. I am not at all against these strategies but what is more important, in my opinion, is hiring more police officers so areas are well patrolled.Mayor Watts visited my school for an hour of discussion, and when I posed the question about why more officers aren't being hired to patrol and ensure public safety, she beat around the bush, leaving my question unanswered.However, my question was answered when at a recent council meeting the mayor announced she will be reducing the number of RCMP officers who attend community safety forums, events and crime reduction meetings.Clearly, Watts does not understand the importance of the police-public relationships. Instead of hiring personnel who ensure public safety, she is simply making it difficult for citizens to feel secure in their own city.As Coun. Barinder Rosode said, "I think it's time to review our targets, and it's time to revisit the goals." And quite frankly, I believe public safety should be at the very top of the priority list.Navi Dosanjh,Surrey