police-to-population ratio remains the worst in the province
Posted on | February 14, 2009 |
Proposed Heritage Woods Middle School next to High School means Students won't need to leave School grounds becasue everything they need will be right there. How convienant!
Interesting and timely article. Policing concerns are just one of my concerns regarding SD43 and Anmore fast tracking approval to build Heritage Woods Middle School. I have sent letters to both Coquitlam RCMP and Port Moody Police regarding the Policing of the proposed School.
Brad Parker Port Moody Chief of Police called me immediately regarding my concern. He said I had a right to be concerned and when asked told me that while Port Moody Police would respond to Heritage Woods High School, but would not respond to Heritage Woods MIDDLE School. The policing model is not perfect and that this is a Coquitlam RCMP matter. Pretty scary as a parent considering the proposed Schools are both SD43 adjoining properties.
Ask Anmore Mayor, Council, and SD43 if this is acceptable protection for our kids? How much is it going to cost to fix it?
see also - Port Moody Police Annual Report
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The Tri-City News
By Janis Warren - The Tri-City News
Published: February 10, 2009 6:00 PM
Coquitlam’s police-to-population ratio remains the worst in the province for a city of its size, according to a report from Statistics Canada. The Police Resources in Canada document, which was published in December, shows Coquitlam had one cop for every 1,025 residents last year. In Port Coquitlam, the ratio of Mounties to citizens was even more grim: 1:1,067 — the second worst number in B.C. for a city of its size (the district of North Vancouver ranked at the bottom with 1:1,082). But in Port Moody, where the city has its own police force, the score was a much better 1:662.
Speaking to The Tri-City News last week, three days before the city budget was passed, Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said the city doesn’t spend enough on public safety compared with similar-sized municipalities. While Coquitlam’s budget is about $15 million, or $114 per capita, for its share of the RCMP detachment it shares with PoCo, Abbotsford’s policing budget is $33 million, or $246 per capita, for its city-run department. As a result, Abbotsford’s police-to-pop ratio is 1:697.
But do the extra officers translate into improved clearance rates for criminal cases?
Abbotsford reports a 22% solve rate while Coquitlam’s is 14% (PoCo’s is 13% and PoMo’s 26%). But Burnaby, which has double Coquitlam’s population, has a police-to-population ratio of 1:816, spends $28 million on its Mounties and its clearance rate is just 14%.
Stewart contended Coquitlam can’t compromise on public safety, especially with the latest string of gang-related violence in Metro Vancouver, including a murder in PoCo last week. “I really want public safety to be higher on the agenda,” Stewart said last Friday, adding, “The police-to-population ratios can’t be dismissed.”
PoCo Mayor Greg Moore said the ratio doesn’t account for Lower Mainland integrated teams. If it did, PoCo’s number would be about 1:850, he suggested (regional police officers, who are seconded from local detachments, are paid for out of police vacancy surpluses).
Moore said his city and Coquitlam are staying on track with the promise to hire nine new officers annually for the RCMP detachment it shares. And he said Coquitlam RCMP Supt. Peter Lepine’s crime-reduction tactics are working, citing a 35% drop in break-ins in 2007.
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For more information regarding the proposed building of Heritage Middle School please contact:
Village of Anmore - Anmore Mayor Hal Weinberg, Councilor John McEwen, Councilor Kerri Palmer Isaak, Councilor Mario Piamonte, Anmore Councilor Chris Sedergreen. 2697 Sunnyside Road, Anmore, BC, V3H 5G9
School District 43 – SD43 - Tom Grant Superintendant of Schools, Dan Derpak, Assistant Superintendant of Schools, Holly Butterfield School Trustee. 550 Poirier Street, Coquitlam, B.C. V3J 6A7
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March 4th, 2009 @ 7:35 pm
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April 29th, 2009 @ 6:02 am
great domain name for blog like this