Surrey RCMP is assigning 40 officers to a homicide task force.
Shortly after Surrey recorded a record-breaking 23rd homicide last month, Mayor Dianne Watts struck a task force comprised of herself, RCMP brass and other authorities, to look into preventing further violence in the city.
It has so far met twice, with the last meeting on Wednesday.
Watts said from Calgary Friday that a “complete framework” will be announced within two weeks. But effective immediately, Chief Supt. Bill Fordy, the officer in charge of the Surrey RCMP detachment, has a team of 40 plainclothes and uniformed police officers of all ranks, and coming from a variety of enforcement sections, focused on disrupting activity that results in violence.
“The task force intends to be pro-active,” Fordy said. “Disrupting, intelligence-led enforcement.”
He described it as a “professional, aggressive enforcement initiative to help eradicate violence in Surrey, and the region.
“We’re on it right now.”
Its success will be assessed weekly, Fordy said. “I would say there’s not an end date.”