SURREY First Councillor and candidate for mayor Linda Annis says she wants to grow the size of the Surrey Police Service by 300 new officers over the next four years, and wants the provincial government to create a police training centre in Surrey to speed up recruitment.
“The SPS is now one year old, and its men and women have accomplished a lot in 12 months,” said Annis on Sunday. She noted that the city’s police transition is the largest in Canadian history, adding: “We have a unique opportunity here in Surrey. It includes getting the SPS ready to police the largest city in the province.”
Annis said Surrey will be the first city in the province to reach one million residents, and she is committed to having “more officers, in more neighbourhoods, more often.”
“We are the size of Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby combined, but we have less than 900 officers, while Vancouver has more than 1400,” noted Annis. “More officers equal more boots on the ground, and the opportunity to put even more resources against priories such as extortion, gangs and drugs.”
She said: “A big part of recruiting and training more officers is the need for a police training centre in Surrey. The existing Justice Institute is not able to keep up and cannot turn out the new officers we and other communities need fast enough.”
Public safety has to be “our biggest priority,” added Annis.
“The growing number of extortion cases and related shootings are a frightening reminder that without public safety, nothing else matters,” said Annis. “People are afraid and they need to know everything possible is being done. For our Surrey First team, that includes having more officers in more neighbourhoods.”
Annis said hiring 75 new officers every year would cost an additional $13 million annually.
“Every criminal, every extortionist, every gang member, and drug dealer needs to know that our city is making public safety our number one priority,” added Annis. “I want the SPS to have the officers, equipment, technology and budget it needs to send a very clear and singular message to criminals: you’re not welcome in Surrey and we will defend our city and its families.”
Annis said she would like nothing better than to have Surrey earn a reputation for being tough on crime.
“It starts with growing the SPS, with even more emphasis on neighbourhood and community policing,” said Annis. “I want a heightened police presence across our city that is highly visible to both residents, and particularly criminals.”
