By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: January 23, 2013 1:00 AM
It’s easy to forget what it used to be like in downtown Vernon. Back in 2008, there were widespread concerns about criminal activity and drugs. “We are exposing people and families to huge risks,” said Mary-Jo O’Keefe, then president of the Downtown Vernon Association. “A child could pick up a needle and that’s a scary thing.” Some merchants had found condoms on sidewalks or in alleys. “It does impact our business when that’s the day-to-day reality,” said O’Keefe. A few years earlier — in 2005 — Cenotaph Park was
ground zero for problems. Drug use was open and transients were sleeping
there. Conditions ultimately escalated to the point that the DVA hired
private security to supplement the police and bylaw enforcement. All of this came to mind as the current city council proposes to reduce the RCMP detachment by two officers. It was also on the mind of Supt. Reg Burgess, officer in charge of the local police. “I have grave concerns that we will lose all ground on
the considerable improvements to public safety that we have achieved
these past few years,” said Burgess in a letter to council. “Crime on the streets of Vernon was significantly
higher three to four years ago than it is today. We have been able to
maintain suppression of visible crime and associated fear of crime
through the use of high visibility tactics such as our downtown
enforcement unit, enhanced foot patrols and random undercover
operations.” Rolling back staff, Burgess suggests, will leave the RCMP challenged to address crime. “To reduce policing capacity as a strategy to address
normal cost increases such as wages, fuel, mandated equipment or
training, and even extraordinary costs is not sustainable and I suggest
not a sensible nor a responsible option for addressing the core
legislated business of any municipality which includes public safety,”
he said. City officials insist the RCMP are being treated like
every other department, and while Burgess requested a 6.7 per cent
budget increase, the line is being held at 1.8 per cent. “We have to apply some fiscal discipline,” said Mayor Rob Sawatzky. Sawatzky doesn’t appear concerned that removing two officers will lead to chaos in the streets. “We all want to reduce crime but most of the evidence
doesn’t correlate a greater number of officers with a reduction in
crime,” he said. And Sawatzky certainly has a point as proactive
measures, including establishing a homeless shelter and co-ordination
among various agencies, have helped address some of the social issues
that can ultimately translate into crime. However, Sawatzky must remember that despite all of the
hard work by the city and community workers, they are limited in what
they can do. Broader societal issues of drugs, mental health and housing
rest with senior government. As long as Ottawa and Victoria sit on
their hands, there will always be gaps in service. A final decision on RCMP staffing will be made in April
when the city’s core services review is completed (there is funding to
maintain the status quo until then). If the cuts do occur, it will be interesting to see who
is right about public safety — Burgess or Sawatzky? And no matter what
statistics show, the challenge will be managing public perception. If
merchants and residents believe crime has become worse with fewer
officers, then that is the situation the city will have to address.
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