Vernon seeks support for RCMP costs

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 14, 2010 7:00 PM
The City of Vernon claims it’s unfairly covering policing costs for the rest of the region. Council will meet with the RCMP and the Ministry of the Solicitor General to discuss concerns that it is absorbing the bulk of the costs for officers and support staff for adjacent communities. “It appears from the numbers we are over-paying,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. According to a report, the city currently supplies virtually all support costs for the North Okanagan RCMP detachment of 38.5 employees. The city funds 33.5 full-time equivalent employees, while Coldstream covers two and three are provincially funded. The costs and manpower increases due to a new records management system and other level service increases have also been largely covered by Vernon.
“Vernon has been home to an integrated detachment since 2004,” said Kevin Bertles, finance manager, in the report. “The integration concept is simple, that shared resources can provide a higher level of service for a lower cost than operating a series of independent emergency response organizations. The concept fails, however, when the partners participate in funding with different levels of commitment.” According to Coun. Jack Gilroy, Vernon taxpayers shouldn’t be footing most of the bill at a regional detachment. “All we want is some relief from the province,” he said. Spiers insists there’s a need to look at staff positions, what their duties entail and how the costs should be distributed. “With the crime analyst, how much time is spent in Vernon and how much elsewhere?”
It’s been previously suggested that Vernon could withdraw from a regional policing model and have its own arrangements with the RCMP, but Gilroy doesn’t believe that’s likely as the force provides a valuable service. “Sometimes you have to say some things for leverage,” he said.