The Surrey RCMP is stressing their commitment to serving the city.
The comment is in response to Mayoral Candidate Doug McCallum’s comments made earlier this week on Pulse Mornings where he claimed the majority of officers serve in Surrey for only a few years before choosing to being transferred elsewhere.
Speaking to Ian Power, Const. Elenore Sturko said the comment couldn’t be further from the truth. (click here for the full interview)
“Our average engagement time in Surrey is around seven to eight years for members, but that doesn’t mean that after that period of time people are just yanked away from our service here,” said Sturko. “The way we’re operating in the force is that when your time is up you have the option to extend and many make that choice.”
Sturko says she personally sought out to work in Surrey for the chance to work in Canada’s largest RCMP detachment.
“Things have changed over the years. Some of the practices that the RCMP employed years ago are not economically feasible. Keeping people in one area and having people plant roots and having establishments in detachments it’s what we do now. It just makes a lot more sense.”
McCallum is calling on the city to switch to a local police force as part of his election platform, saying those members are more engaged in the community and choose to stay longer. (click here for the full interview)