Surrey Police Board Administrator Mike Serr is delivering a 2024 provisional budget to the City of Surrey today for the Surrey Police Service as the fledgling force aims to replace the Surrey RCMP, a move that the majority on Surrey city council remains vehemently opposed to.
B次元官网网址淚 believe this budget, along with its underlying assumptions, will give city council the confidence in moving this transition forward,B次元官网网址� Serr said.
The recently retired Abbotsford police chief-ran his first SPB meeting on Thursday, Nov. 30 since Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth temporarily suspended the SPB B次元官网网址� of which Mayor Brenda Locke was chairwoman B次元官网网址� and put him in charge.
Serr declined to reveal details related to the B次元官网网址渃arefully developedB次元官网网址� provisional budget before council has a look.
B次元官网网址淚 will not comment on the details at the moment because city council deserves the courtesy and the opportunity to review it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢ost importantly, IB次元官网网址檓 assured that this budget is carefully developed in alignment with the City of SurreyB次元官网网址檚 2023 to 2027 financial plan. I recognize that the critical path of implementation work with all parties may refine these assumptions. If there are changes to the assumptions prior to March, when the budget is required to be finalized, these will be reflected in an amended budget submission to the city.B次元官网网址�
says
One underlying assumption reflected in the budget submission, Serr said, is that the SPS will hire an additional 180 sworn officers in 2024. B次元官网网址淭his will bring this blended service to over 50 per cent SPS by the end of 2024.B次元官网网址�
He noted SurreyB次元官网网址檚 current B次元官网网址渂lendedB次元官网网址� policing service with more than one quarter, roughly 200 SPS officers, working alongside Mounties. B次元官网网址淚t is essential that this board continue to provide sound governance and oversight as this transition proceeds.B次元官网网址�
Farnworth said on Nov. 16, when he announced SerrB次元官网网址檚 appointment, that it was made under Section 8 of the Police Amendment Act B次元官网网址渁fter careful consideration of the work by the Surrey Police Board, which has been limited due to the lack of progress from the City of Surrey in advancing the police model transition to the SPS.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎t the heart of this work for me is public safety, and officer safety, and delivering results that make the public safe and feel supported,B次元官网网址� he said at the outset, adding heB次元官网网址檚 focused on moving the controversial policing transition forward B次元官网网址渋n a thoughtful, respectful manner.
Serr was required to submit a budget to Surrey by Thursday, Nov. 30 and if the city is not happy with it, Farnworth said, B次元官网网址渢hat goes to the director of police services for them to make a decision, recommendations or changes or what have you. ThatB次元官网网址檚 been in existence in the Police Act for a long time and has been used from time to time.B次元官网网址�
The boardB次元官网网址檚 next meeting is set for Jan. 25, unless Serr calls one before then.
B次元官网网址淚 deeply value civilian oversight,B次元官网网址� he said during SPBB次元官网网址檚 trimmed-down virtual meeting. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e taken on this temporary role with a view to bridging back to a permanent police board as soon as possible. As a sole administrator, even though temporary, I will do this job with the best interests of the people of Surrey at the top of my mind.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 am an independent administrator,B次元官网网址� he stressed. B次元官网网址淔or my first step, I wrote to Surrey council to ask for an opportunity to hear from their thoughts on priorities, their vision, and objectives for policing and to open a clear channel of communication. I full recognize that this has been a contentious issue but I sincerely want the opportunity to listen and to hear from their perspectives.B次元官网网址�
