First open house on new Surrey Police force leaves many taxpayers frustrated

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — What’s the price tag? That’s the theme emerging at Surrey’s first public consultation meeting into what a municipal police force to replace the RCMP would look like.

Some residents say they’re deeply concerned about not knowing the details in a report that’s being sent to the provincial government, this after Premier John Horgan said residents should be given more details — including the cost — before the switch happens.

RELATED: Surrey residents deserve more details about possible police transition: Premier

Turnout at the open house at the Cloverdale Recreation Centre has been strong, with most people, including Donna Morse, confronting politicians and bureaucrats about the need for a referendum.

“Most definitely. We’re kind of the cart-before-the-horse kind of thing,” she says. “I would like to see a public referendum. I think we’ve gone now too far.”

People here asking city staff, “What if we don’t want it?” Some are even demanding a referendum before anything changes. #SurreyPolice #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/59u95yvtI6

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) May 23, 2019

Tanya Rowlands says she would be willing to pay more if there was proof policing would improve.

“I don’t really have any concerns. I think, regardless if its the RCMP or a Surrey Police force, it’s not going to really make a difference in my opinion, because it’s a judicial problem,” she says. “It’s a revolving door, it’s letting everybody out. I don’t really think it will make a speck of difference.”

Others have accused Mayor Doug McCallum of deliberately keeping them in the dark because he’s determined to get rid of the RCMP so he can have more control. Others say they don’t believe claim this change will only cost taxpayers 10 per cent more.

Official overseeing police transition defends process

Meantime, the man leading the policing transition team is defending the secrecy surrounding the report that’s been sent to the provincial government.

Terry Waterhouse, the General Manager of Police Transition in Surrey, also defends having public consultation on a new police force before all the details, including costs, are shared.

He says now is not the time to reveal what is in the report, which could shed light on the actual cost of the transition from RCMP to a municipal police force. First, he says, they have to be analyzed by Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.

“The process requires him to receive that report for review, and in due course, once he’s had a chance to review it, I’m confident that it will be released and the contents made public,” he says.

As to the possibility of a referendum on the issue, he dismissed the idea.

“I think the motion on the first day of council was very clear to establish a municipal police service. We took that direction and we’re acting on that direction. There has never been any talk of a referendum,” he says.

In the meantime, he’s encouraging people to come out to any of the various consultation events happening around the city in the next month.