Only amalgamation will fix the problem
Times Colonist
May 27, 2014
Re: “Watchdog fears for police integration,” May 24.
Children and youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond fears “that the appetite for collaboration in the region is going down.”
I believe that an integrated police unit such as the Regional Crime Unit will not solve the problems of crime. With integration we still have too many police chiefs, each with his own ideas on how to deal with certain criminal offences and what’s best for his community.
Turpel-Lafond stated that three police departments involved in the Sunny Park family murder lacked co-ordination, and I am certain it is still the same today.
As long as the capital region has empire builders — five police chiefs, 13 mayors, 13 fire chiefs and the Capital Regional District — we will never have co-operation or collaboration.
Our only answer? Amalgamation. I hope that our local as well as provincial politicians will see our dilemma and fix it.
Jesse Battle
Victoria
© Copyright Times Colonist
Times Colonist
May 27, 2014
Re: “Watchdog fears for police integration,” May 24.
Children and youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond fears “that the appetite for collaboration in the region is going down.”
I believe that an integrated police unit such as the Regional Crime Unit will not solve the problems of crime. With integration we still have too many police chiefs, each with his own ideas on how to deal with certain criminal offences and what’s best for his community.
Turpel-Lafond stated that three police departments involved in the Sunny Park family murder lacked co-ordination, and I am certain it is still the same today.
As long as the capital region has empire builders — five police chiefs, 13 mayors, 13 fire chiefs and the Capital Regional District — we will never have co-operation or collaboration.
Our only answer? Amalgamation. I hope that our local as well as provincial politicians will see our dilemma and fix it.
Jesse Battle
Victoria
© Copyright Times Colonist
