SURREY, B.C. - The assistant commissioner of the RCMP in Surrey, B.C, is warning that the city's 2020 budget will hurt services as well as the health of its members and support staff.
Dwayne McDonald says in a statement that the budget, which does not allow for any additional police resources for the second year in a row, will have a "detrimental effect" on the force.
City council has passed a budget that places a freeze on the hiring of new RCMP officers and firefighters to help pay for the transition to a new municipal police service.
Some conflicting comments-Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum and head of SurreyRCMP clashing over the city’s new budget. The mayor said he spoke with RCMP and fire chief before the budget was done. RCMP is concerned over no new officers next year. pic.twitter.com/DttmRKxIR3
— Meera Bains (@Meerakati) December 3, 2019
McDonald says the city previously denied his request for 12 additional officers for 2019 and it was made clear to him that any additional requests for resources would not be entertained.
He says as staffing levels remain stagnant and Surrey's population increases, demand for police services continues to grow, with a three per cent increase in calls for service and a 3.6 per cent increase in files this year.
McCallum speaks to media for the first time on the budget. #surreybc pic.twitter.com/QmhIJ5unmy
— Amy Marie Reid (@amyreid87) December 3, 2019
Mayor Doug McCallum said Monday the hiring freeze was given the OK by the police chief and fire chief.
"Both of them assured me we could get by this year and continue to make our city safe by the same number of officers we have now," he said.
A spokesman for the city did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the assistant commissioner's statement on Tuesday.
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum speaking now, says he stands by the budget - says it is one of the “best budgets” he’s ever seen. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/muIpYQZ5My
— Tarnjit Parmar (@Tarnjitkparmar) December 3, 2019
McDonald said the increases in demand equate to an average of 463 more calls per month and 585 additional files per month. A disparity between resources and calls means the RCMP will have to review the services it provides, he says.
"Unfortunately, this may necessitate the redeployment of personnel from proactive and community-based programs, which we know have a positive impact on crime prevention, to our essential service, front-line policing," he says.
Crime rates in Surrey have been declining since 2014 but the Mounties are seeing some minor increases this year and, in the long term, the city cannot expect to see crime go down in a growing municipality without relative increases to police resources, McDonald says.
Senior RCMP officers will continue to advocate for adequate resources, even as the city and province work to determine the future of policing in Surrey, he says.
"To the residents of Surrey, the safety of your homes, your families, and your neighbourhoods remains our top priority, as always."
Some councillors expressed their discontent with the budget after Monday night's vote.
Coun. Steven Pettigrew apologized to the residents of Surrey, saying he has done all he could to prevent it.
Here is what Steven Pettigrew had to say after finance committee moved budget forward to council mtg tonight.
— Amy Marie Reid (@amyreid87) December 3, 2019
McCallum didn’t speak to reporters, but I’m told he will tonight. #surreybc https://t.co/pSjbuU67LW pic.twitter.com/tRcPMlNJDS
"I'm embarrassed by this budget and I want nothing to do with it."
McCallum defended the budget following the vote, arguing it is fiscally responsible.
There was a FULL HOUSE there last night for those who choose see and hear the public https://t.co/IvXPlaoRUH
— Jack Hundial (@JackHundial) December 3, 2019
SFFA President addressed Surrey Mayor & Council, at today’s public consultation.
— Surrey Fire Fighters (@Local1271) December 2, 2019
We are asking Council to reconsider the Financial Plan as proposed.
Speaker after speaker has vocalized their concern that there is no plan to add, much needed, fire fighters in 2020. pic.twitter.com/g8r5n723xP