RICHMOND (NEWS1130) – Richmond is looking to put some pressure on the province to follow up on one of the recommendations from the Missing Women Commission. The city wants to see a plan for regional policing.
Richmond has been looking at all of its options due to ongoing frustrations with the RCMP.
One of the options suggested by city staff is the creation of a provincial committee that would propose a plan for a Greater Vancouver police force.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie says the city is also continuing to consider its own police force. “We have some issues with the RCMP. We are satisfied with the operational level that we see on the street.”
The idea of a regional police force has divided the region’s mayors, but Brodie doesn’t think that’s reason enough to prevent a close look at the issue. “We want to take a longer look at the idea of our own independent police force contracting out specialized services and we also want to take a look at the regional police model as well.”
Despite the divide in opinion the issue has caused across the region, Brodie thinks the province should still at the very least examine it.
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I agree with you Bushwacker! I am quite satisfired with the level of policing in Richmond from the RCMP. Change it …… and I will NOT vote for Mayor Brodie and those on the current municipal council in the next municipal election. The whole RCMP thing has now become an election issue.
Please put this to a taxpayer referendum Malcolm Brodie. Most residents of Richmond disagree with you and most would relish an opportunity to have a say in how you spend our money. The very idea of Malcolm Brodie heading a Municipal police force or board makes me shudder. We do not need another tax increasing, unelected, unaccountable government institution created by Malcolm Brodie and the mostly inept Richmond council. Malcolm Brodie was a lower tier lawyer who was lucky enough to ascend to the mayors chair. He was not a very good or influential lawyer and now he may get to head his own police force?
I don’t live in the Lower Mainland anymore but I would certainly support a regional (metro) police force if I did. I also support a return to a Provincial Police force. I say return because that is what we used to have pre-RCMP. However, as has been mentioned above, we would probably have to hire RCMP members to staff this force, at least in the short term. There isn’t any way to come up with the number of officers that would be needed. Interesting times ahead.
BC had renewed a 20 year contract with RCMP. No thanks to the solicitor general, Shirley Bond who had betrayed the people of BC. Liberals are weak bone and corrupt politicians who have added miseries to BC. Despite mounting complaints from RCMP and unresolved issues, they fall prey to pressure on renewing the 20 year contract. The least they can do under pending review is to seek a 2 year window upon which due diligence review with oversight committee would make RCMP address their own issues. There are numerous cases of negligence of duties carried out by RCMP and officers are not penalized with appropriate punishment. They need to address such issues as they are seen as loopholes in the system. Why do we have high number of RCMP assigned to BC with 4.6 M population as compared to Ontario with 12.9 M ? We should be asking these questions ? who makes and approves such decisions ? We can recind the 20 year contract of RCMP. When liberals are booted out of their seats, public can demand their outrage to make these changes. Do not expect liberals to present a solution, they are considered to be part of the problem we faced in BC.
Hey Neal, ever heard of the Ontario Provincial Police!!!
Would you like a huge hike in your property taxes?
Unfortunately, that’s maybe what it’s going to be. Because without a doubt and at all cost…we need to lose the problem. The RCMP.
I have to disagree. The problem is not the RCMP. I am quite satisified with the level of service from the Richmond RCMP and getting more bang for my tax dollars when compared to Vancouver or even Abby. It is a few bad apples that make the problem and you don’t think Vancouver Police have problem police members???
No …… I like having the RCMP provide my safety in Richmond. Change it and my vote changes for Mayor Brodie and those sitting on the current council WILL change in the next municipal election.
As long as there is a ban on former members of the RCM “P” then regional police is a great idea.
Yes, because we can easily replace thousands of Police Officers overnight.
Okay …… if you want a regional police force …… let’s have an RCMP Metro Vancouver Police Force. More bang for the buck and they give equal amount of safety. The RCMP make a more economic sense in quality of work & public safety.
If Richmond goes independent/municipal, then the citizens of Richmond will have to deal with a huge hike in property taxes to fund such an independent police force. Also, the start up costs will also be enormous. If Richmond does this …… I won’t be voting for Mayor Brodie and those sitting on the municipal council in the next municipal election.
Forget a regional police force. Go after a provincial wide police force. get rid of as many of the RCMP as possible from BC
A regional police force is a great idea!