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Letter: New West police could have trouble hiring after budget decision

Will the budget decision make it harder to attract new staff?
new-westminster-police
Record file photo

Editor:

After reading the lead story in the Dec. 10 edition of the Record, I felt I must respond to council's decisions to vote for no increase in the police budget.

I have drafted this note in my head many times to ensure I framed my response as succinctly and dispassionately as possible to prevent any misunderstandings.

It is important that council be aware of "big picture" trends and policy needs. Having said that, I am at a loss to understand how a "need for justice and reform" that calls for no increase (and even decreases) in U.S. police budgets can be interpreted as a need for New Westminster, where the vast majority of the New Westminster Police Department budget request relates to wage increases.

New Westminster is fortunate to have its own police department governed by its own police board providing civilian oversight and policy to police operations. 

Even more beneficial is the fact the chair of the police board is our mayor.

Looking ahead, I hope council has answers for the following potential results:

  • Will council accept fewer constables on patrol if the number of sworn officers has to be reduced to balance the NWPD budget.
  • Will council accept fewer constables on patrol is the number of civilian support staff are reduced and replaced by sworn constables to complete the mountains of documentation and statistics required to operate a police department.
  • Sworn and civilian staff suddenly start to look to opportunities with the newly created and staff-hungry Surrey police department.
  • How will the NWPD become an employer of choice with the very best resources dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens/electorate of New Westminster.

I sincerely hope the councillors that voted in support of no increase listen to the councillors and mayor who did not vote for this initiative who know there are governance best practices and opportunities that should have been followed before this "knee-jerk" action.

New Westminster is evolving into a much more interesting and exciting city - let us ensure we have the police department that can and will grow as the needs grow.

Allen Domaas, New Westminster