SURREY councillors Doug Elford, Mandeep Nagra and Linda Annis on Thursday expressed their strong disapproval of Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke’s decision to withhold salaries from 10 new recruits of Surrey Police Service.

“This is not just a failure of leadership; it’s a direct threat to the safety of Surrey’s residents,” asserted Elford.

Nagra noted: “In the face of rising gang violence and shootings, Mayor Brenda Locke has diverted half a million taxpayer dollars to her own partisan political ad campaign instead of funding more boots on the ground. This is an egregious misallocation of taxpayer resources and an abuse of power.”

Highlighting the public safety crisis, the councillors emphasized the need for more boots on the ground to fight crime.

“At a critical time for law enforcement, this decision delays the deployment of much-needed officers patrolling our city to fight crime,” said Elford.

Elford and Nagra urged the provincial government to intervene, stating: “We call on Premier and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth to ensure the SPS officers’ salaries are paid without delay.”

Nagra said: “Prioritizing the safety and security of Surrey’s residents over Brenda Locke’s petty politics is crucial.”

MEANWHILE, Annis said the decision by Locke not to put new recruits to the Surrey Police Service on the payroll reinforces the “level of petty politics” surrounding her opposition to the police transition.

“The police union has offered to step up and pay these costs temporarily but that shouldn’t be necessary,” said Annis. “It’s absolutely ridiculous that the mayor continues to throw up roadblocks to the transition, wasting time and money. While she won’t pay for the new recruits, she has found $500,000 for her politically motivated anti-SPS public relations plan. I’m embarrassed as a councillor and as a resident of Surrey that the mayor has treated these new recruits this way. What a terrible welcome to our city.”