Taxpayers in Langley City and the Township of Langley will pay more if the Langley RCMP is split into separate detachments for the two communities.
That’s according to a statement released Monday, June 3 by the City of the Langley that reported a review by the B.C. RCMP “E” Division headquarters showed the split being sought by the Township would be inefficient and would destabilize policing in the City, the Township, and the province.
Based on the “E” Division review, City Mayor Nathan Pachal said the Langley RCMP detachment should remain fully integrated, with a renegotiated police service agreement.
“There is no compelling financial and/or operational rationale to de-integrate the current integrated model which provides effective policing for both municipalities,” Pachal commented.
READ ALSO: Splitting Langley RCMP between City, Township will take ‘many years’ says Pachal
The RCMP “E” Division de-integration assessment looked at three options: remain fully integrated with a modified police service agreement; create two autonomous detachments with limited shared services; or create two “fully autonomous detachments.”
While the Township has complained the City hasn’t been paying its fair share of policing costs, the City rejects that assertion and said the RCMP review backs them up.
“The RCMP’s assessment report clearly indicates the cost sharing ratio between the City and the Township is proportional to the regular members funded strength, calls for service per member, calls for service dispatched per member, and average service time,” Mayor Pachal said.
“The autonomous detachments model would not only require further study to identify the risks and develop a transition plan, but it would also require additional police members and municipal employees to cover the inefficiencies that a de-integrated model perpetuates, at additional costs to the taxpayers of both communities,” Pachal warned.
“The de-integration of the Langley RCMP Detachment would not be conductive to community safety, rather it would destabilize policing in the City, the Township, and the province of British Columbia.”
Pachal noted the makeup of both communities has changed since the last RCMP cost sharing agreement was established, which calls for a “new and modernized cost sharing agreement with the Township of Langley based on detailed evidence-based cost analysis, fairness to both communities, and meeting the strategic initiatives and needs for each municipality while maintaining a joint detachment.”
READ ALSO: By the numbers: How do Langley City, Township stack up on shared policing?
The joint City-Township RCMP detachment provides funding for 210 officers, as well as paying for the detachment headquarters, police vehicles, and other RCMP equipment.
The split proposed by the Township would divide all of that, and force Langley City to build or locate its own detachment HQ.
The City position will be conveyed to Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General; Township Mayor Eric Woodward, Maureen Levy, Assistant Commissioner, RCMP Lower Mainland District; Glen Lewis, Assistant Deputy Minister and Director of Police Services; and Supt. Adrian Marsden, the Langley RCMP Detachment Officer-in-Charge.
READ ALSO: Langley City, Township will have to plan RCMP split, says Solicitor General
