Surrey’s new top cop ready to roll in face of uncertainty
He could be the last Mountie in charge of policing in Surrey.
But Chief Supt. Brian Edwards, Surrey’s new top cop, says he is ready for the challenge no matter what the future holds.
Edwards, who will be promoted to assistant commissioner when he assumes the post in January, told reporters Thursday that he jumped at the opportunity to become Surrey’s officer in charge.
“It is a feather in one’s forage cap to lead the biggest, most innovative detachment in the country.”
“So when the opportunity came up — especially as I have been a municipal officer — to work in a big large municipality, there was no hesitation on my part,” said Edwards, a former Calgary police officer with a law degree. “On what may or may not happen in relation to the transition, I will deal with accordingly as time moves on.”
The man he is replacing, Asst. Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, pointed out Thursday that the B.C. government hasn’t made a final decision on Surrey’s proposed switch to a municipal force.
“I think it’s important to recognize first and foremost that the police transition hasn’t been formally approved yet by the province,” McDonald said after introducing Edwards. “The province has struck a committee to study this issue.”
And McDonald defended his recent statement that a police hiring freeze in the city’s budget for a second year in a row would have a “detrimental effect” on the force.
McDonald also praised Edwards as “a dedicated, intelligent and approachable individual who I strongly believe will serve the residents and the business owners of Surrey very well.”
Edwards said he spoke briefly to Mayor Doug McCallum on Wednesday night and looks forward to meeting him, the city manager and other community members to work on policing priorities already identified in a fouryear strategic plan.
“You can be sure that crime reduction and pressure on violent crime and gangs is going to continue in the immediate future,” Edwards said. “We’re going to continue with those programs and services that are reaching out to the community and the crime-suppression activities that have been successful to this point.”
But he agreed with McDonald that more officers are needed.
“There’s no doubt that when a community is growing by 800 to 1,000 people a month, and there is no increase in resources, over time that’s going to put pressure and strains on things,” he said.
Edwards, who has more than 24 years of policing experience, said the Surrey RCMP “is known to push the envelope, try new things, and establish best practices.”
“I know they have had visits from police forces across the country and around the world who are interested in learning how this detachment deals with significant issues such as homeless camps, the opioid crisis, mental health outreach, gang conflict and recruitment and more,” he said.
Despite the uncertain future of the force in Surrey, he said he wants to “assure Surrey citizens that we remain focused on your public safety concerns and engaging with you at the community level.”
“To the members and staff here, your well-being both on and off the job is extremely important to me. I will do my best to lead you through this challenge and any others that may arise, with the support you deserve,” he said.
Meanwhile, the City of Surrey announced on Thursday that the Municipal Pension Plan’s board of trustees had approved the city’s application to allow new municipal officers a more beneficial pension package, regardless of whether they’re former RCMP officers or recruited from another municipal force.