Surrey mayor keeping mum as councillors finally review police transition report

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – It appears civic politicians in Surrey are finally in the process of reviewing a much-anticipated report into the planned switch from the RCMP to a municipal police force in that city.

Council members have been in a closed-door meeting for much of the morning on Wednesday, just a day ahead of the start of the public consultation period.

Many people have questions about the transition: How much will it cost? Is there a viable way of bringing Surrey RCMP members on board? But if the report has any answers, Mayor Doug McCallum is opting not to share them.

“Again I have to say that it was a confidential meeting and I’m not at liberty to answer that question at this time,” he adds. “We have solid support in council for changing to our own police force, yes. We campaigned on it so we should.”

RELATED: Morale strong within Surrey RCMP despite transition talk: city’s top Mountie

The issue has been a controversial one in the city where critics say McCallum has yet to prove the benefits of moving away from the Mounties.

“The completion of the Policing Transition Report is a landmark moment for the City of Surrey as it marks an important step in bringing local accountability to the citizens of Surrey,” said Mayor Doug McCallum in a release. “The creation of a Surrey Police Department was one of two major initiatives unanimously passed by Council on the night we were sworn in and, this morning, Council has had the opportunity to view the full report.”

In the release, McCallum thanked city staff, the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Police Department for their work on the transition document.

“I am confident that our plan fully details how we will successfully transition to a city police department and I look forward to hearing back from the Solicitor General,” he wrote. “With the report now in the hands of the provincial government we are moving ahead with our public engagement sessions. I urge our residents to come out and help us shape their Surrey Police Department.”

RELATED: Protesters rally against Surrey RCMP

McCallum’s plan has been criticized by many, including former Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts, who questioned how a public consultation could be truly meaningful if those weighing in still haven’t seen what the plans entail.

“It’s important the general public have all the information especially if they are going through a proper consultation process,” she said.

“It’s crucial that the cost analysis is done, the analysis in terms of what it is that they are trying to fix and also making sure there are several voices. The public, the business community and the private sector,” Watts added.

She believes an issue that could reshape the way Surrey deals with law enforcement isn’t a decision that can be rushed, and that taxpayers are left out of.

McCallum had said in April that the report was expected to be sent to the province by the end of that month.

The report breaks down the cost, the number of police officers that would be in the force, and a timeline for the possible transition. Some councillors have said the cost will exceed the ten per cent increase over the current RCMP model.

The city’s mayor has already unveiled a new cruiser branded as a Surrey Police vehicle.

Prepare for a ‘sticker shock’

While she says she can’t comment on the report, Surrey Councillor Linda Annis is weighing in, saying that scrapping the RCMP will come at a hefty price tag.

“It has been previously mentioned that the Vancouver police is helping Surrey with the report,” she adds. “And if you assume that we’re going to be following the Vancouver policing model, taxpayers in Surrey can be prepared for a sticker shock when they get their tax statements in subsequent years.”

Annis says she’s concerned no details have been released to the public.

“I am quite disappointed there’s been no public engagement done so far,” Annis says. “The report has been done behind closed doors and we’re having public engagement [on Thursday], yet we have nothing to show the people in terms of what the proposal is, which to me seems fundamentally wrong.”

The report has been sent to the provincial government for review before it makes recommendations or a decision.

-With files from Martin MacMahon, Estefania Duran, Taran Parmar, Hana Mae Nassar, Dean Recksiedler, Denise Wong, and Ash Kelly