Surrey goes backward on police

At present, Surrey is planning a highly controversial transition from the RCMP to its own force, the Surrey Police Department. The cost of this transition has been estimated at

$19 million, with an additional $500,000 for IT transition — all at a time when Surrey is facing a $42-million budget shortfall due in part to the current pandemic.

To proceed with this transition, now, without a serious re-examination of the standard North American policing model, is short-sighted. The CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) program is an alternative way of addressing addiction and mental health emergencies. In Eugene, Ore., where it was started, teams of two, a paramedic and social work/mental health crisis councillor, have been able to handle nearly 20 per cent of emergency calls at a significant cost savings and better outcomes (less deaths). Six major U.S. cities, including New York and Oakland, are considering implementing CAHOOTS-based programs.

Police transition in Surrey requires an acknowledgment of current societal needs and appropriate resource allocation. Drug decriminalization for personal use and eliminating police presence in schools might also be considered for reducing costs. Transitioning from the RCMP to Surrey police without structural changes will be a costly leap backward and will represent a missed opportunity.

Robert Winston, Surrey