Start amalgamation with police force
Times Colonist,
August 6, 2014
Amalgamate Greater Victoria — now there’s a conundrum.The provincial government should lead the way by creating a provincial police force and decreeing that it will take over the policing of southern Vancouver Island, as far north as Sooke and Shawnigan Lake. No more jurisdiction arguments, no more non-functioning joint task forces, no more not enough staffing claims, no more communication malfunctions. The cops will be put where the crime is, have no restrictions on where they travel and will be directed by one chief. Simple, but effective.
When this step shows how much better the policing can be, the fire departments can amalgamate. Next, the street, water, sewer and administration departments can meld.
That only leaves the politicians, which are pretty insignificant compared to the people who keep the city safe and functioning.
By the way, our free-enterprise provincial government can have this new provincial police force bid on policing contracts against the Mounties in other parts of the province. The B.C. Liberals claim they like to see competition in the bidding process and with this they would have created another first.
Michael B. McManus
Pender Island
© Copyright Times Colonist
Times Colonist,
August 6, 2014
Amalgamate Greater Victoria — now there’s a conundrum.The provincial government should lead the way by creating a provincial police force and decreeing that it will take over the policing of southern Vancouver Island, as far north as Sooke and Shawnigan Lake. No more jurisdiction arguments, no more non-functioning joint task forces, no more not enough staffing claims, no more communication malfunctions. The cops will be put where the crime is, have no restrictions on where they travel and will be directed by one chief. Simple, but effective.
When this step shows how much better the policing can be, the fire departments can amalgamate. Next, the street, water, sewer and administration departments can meld.
That only leaves the politicians, which are pretty insignificant compared to the people who keep the city safe and functioning.
By the way, our free-enterprise provincial government can have this new provincial police force bid on policing contracts against the Mounties in other parts of the province. The B.C. Liberals claim they like to see competition in the bidding process and with this they would have created another first.
Michael B. McManus
Pender Island
© Copyright Times Colonist