Surrey mayor pushes for police transition decision

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke is urging council members to come to a decision on the ongoing police transition.

Locke, who has been vocal about her support of the RCMP, said in council Monday night she wants that decision to come by the end of June.

“It is the interest of this council to finalize our intention, with respect to policing, quickly in the interest of public safety and fiscal responsibility for our citizens. Staff are working hard to address a number of the questions posed by the solicitor general to provide a comprehensive, corporate report for this council — all of this council — so we can make a final and informed decision,” she said.

“My goal is to have this accomplished this month.”

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• Surrey ‘will not be pressured or bullied’ into making quick policing decision: Mayor

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• Surrey councillor urges colleagues to move ahead with police transition

Her comments Monday came days after Solicitor General Mike Farnworth sent council a strongly worded letter expressing “grave concern” that not all councillors had read the province’s unredacted report. The document, which recommends Surrey continue with its transition to a municipal force, is only accessible in its unredacted form by councillors who sign a non-disclosure agreement — something many have not yet done.

Locke fired back on Friday — a day later — to say the city would not be “pressured or bullied into making a hasty” decision — a suggestion Farnworth told CityNews was “absolutely ridiculous.”

“Surrey city council, as all city councils under the B.C. Police Act, section 3, bracket 2, have the democratic responsibility, right, and authority to determine our choice of policing, not the provincial government. The premier, the solicitor general, and the deputy minister have all confirmed that fact on a number of occasions,” Locke said in council Monday.

“Over the past two weeks, there has been inaccurate and misleading statements made to undermine, interrupt, and create a public debate in an effort to interfere and force Surrey to continue down a costly, unproven, and uncertain policing path.”

She continued by saying that it was “unfortunate” the previous mayor and council “was not permitted” to do their due diligence at the beginning of the police transition process, some four and a half years ago.

Once again, Locke fired back at the province, saying the B.C. government “has taken over five months to provide us with the information” and that council has only “had the unredacted report for less than two weeks.”

Speaking in council, Locke also took aim at some councillors who have raised criticisms about the ongoing back and forth when it comes to policing in the city.

“For some on this council to describe this work as a stall is deliberately disingenuous and worse for some of this council to suggest that we usurp or waive our dutiful responsibility as elected officials of this city is quite frankly shameful,” the mayor said. “I want to assure our residents and taxpayers that this council has and will continue to do our best to do our due diligence for the residents of this city. This is not just an issue for today, this is a generational decision that will impact future generations.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Surrey Police Union launched a new website, which acts as a petition urging council to continue on with the Surrey Police Service and to get more SPS boots on the ground.

“Time’s up. Dispatch the Surrey Police Service NOW,” the website reads, with various news headlines about recent criminal activity in the city featured on the home page.