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Policing
THE LIFE OF
Survey says 83 per cent want policing referendum
BRIAN
Mayor ‘not commenting’ on poll commissioned by National Police Federation Tom Zytaruk tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
I
n an exclusive sit-down with the ‘Now-Leader,’ Surrey’s new top cop Brian Edwards talks about what it’s like being at the helm of Canada’s largest RCMP detachment during what is proving to be the most trying time in its history.
z Q&A starts on page 6 Surrey RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards sat down with the Now-Leader for an extensive interview in his office. Our Q&A starts on page 6. (Photo: Tom Zytaruk) Edwards, 53, weighs his words carefully but is not guarded. He has a disarming nature about ssistant Commissioner him, suggesting he’s the kind of guy you’d be happy to break Brian Edwards, the bread with, or enjoy a cold beer. Surrey RCMP’s 21st In colloquial terms, he’s what officer in charge, could you’d call ‘good people.’ well be its last if the city makes The Now-Leader sat down with good on its plan to replace the RCMP – which has policed these Surrey’s top cop in his detachparts since 1951 – with a made-in- ment office, where a lava lamp merrily bubbles next to a police Surrey police force. radio, and a “Best Dad” ribbon While his job surely must be hangs next to his desk. stressful, especially under the Across the room, there’s a present circumstances, his compainting, which his son did in portment does not suggest he’s Grade 4, that says “Fun” in big carrying the weight of the world block letters. on his shoulders. Tom Zytaruk tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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“You know how they are, eh,” he says of his prized best-dad ribbon, the fun picture, and the boy who made them both. “That stuff sticks with you. There’s nothing more important to me, as important as this job is.” From here, Edwards commands 843 Mounties in Canada’s largest RCMP detachment. Among their immediate concerns is gang violence. “Key on that is not just the immediate band-aid, and addressing of that shooting, but really working for long-term change,” he says. “To really disrupt recruitment into gangs.
“We’re no longer in an environment where the police are in charge of public safety, that’s a shared responsibility, and there’s a degree of arrogance if the police think that they can solely fix those problems for the community. We’re one partner – we’re a very important partner because of the things that we can do, but the partnering with the school district and so many of these other agencies, where you see the people that give so much to the community, is fantastic.” z Read our two-page Q&A with Edwards on pages 6 and 7.
A new survey conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights on behalf of the National Police Federation suggests 83 per cent of Surrey residents “favour a referendum before a final decision is made on the issue of replacing the RCMP in Surrey.” Pollara Strategic Insights was commissioned by the NPF to conduct an online survey of 800 “randomly selected Surrey residents,” aged 18 and above, between Jan. 21 to 31, 2020. Twelve per cent of the respondents oppose a referendum, and seven per cent said they “don’t know.” Moreover, 44 per cent indicated “I am satisfied with the service we receive from the RCMP and should stay the course,” while 33 per cent indicated “I have concerns with the RCMP, but would support retaining them if there were significant improvements,” another 17 per cent indicated “We need to replace the RCMP with a municipal police force” and seven per cent indicated “don’t know.” What does Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum think of this survey? Continued on A7
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