RICK Stewart, President of the Surrey Police Union, on Tuesday said in a statement: “The Surrey Police Union (SPU) is expressing significant concern over the dissemination of inaccurate information by Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke that is being used to sow confusion among residents and undermine the credibility of Surrey Police Service (SPS), the Surrey Police Board, and our dedicated members.
“The 2023 policing budget for the City of Surrey was initially formulated under the assumption that the RCMP would remain the police of jurisdiction, with the SPS discontinuing its operations by July 2023. Consequently, SPS operated with an incomplete budget, covering approximately half of the fiscal year. Following [Public Safety] Minister [Mike] Farnworth’s decision to proceed with the policing transition, the City of Surrey refused to adjust the budget to reflect staffing and transition planning.
“The City of Surrey’s own 2023 Third Quarter Financial Report identifies a policing surplus of $19 million. Additionally, $83 million earmarked for severance (should SPS have been dissolved) was allocated for ‘future policing expenses.’ As of the third quarter of 2023, the City of Surrey has a $102 million surplus from the $330 million policing budget, challenging Mayor Locke’s assertions of a policing budget overrun. It is patently unfair of Mayor Locke to grossly underfund SPS and then criticize for running a deficit when the total budgeted amount for policing is in surplus.
“Mayor Locke’s financial shell game aims to distract from the 10 police recruit officers that she refuses to pay. These officers all received job offers and quit prior employment well before the letter on December 19, 2023. It would have been incredibly irresponsible and costly for SPS to rescind job offers just days before Christmas.
“The SPU urges transparency and accuracy in public discourse to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding the policing budget and transition.”
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