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.
sa国际传媒淚 believe this budget, along with its underlying assumptions, will give city council the confidence in moving this transition forward,sa国际传媒� 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 sa国际传媒� of which Mayor Brenda Locke was chairwoman sa国际传媒� and put him in charge.
Serr declined to reveal details related to the sa国际传媒渃arefully developedsa国际传媒� provisional budget before council has a look.
sa国际传媒淚 will not comment on the details at the moment because city council deserves the courtesy and the opportunity to review it,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淢ost importantly, Isa国际传媒檓 assured that this budget is carefully developed in alignment with the City of Surreysa国际传媒檚 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.sa国际传媒�
says
One underlying assumption reflected in the budget submission, Serr said, is that the SPS will hire an additional 180 sworn officers in 2024. sa国际传媒淭his will bring this blended service to over 50 per cent SPS by the end of 2024.sa国际传媒�
He noted Surreysa国际传媒檚 current sa国际传媒渂lendedsa国际传媒� policing service with more than one quarter, roughly 200 SPS officers, working alongside Mounties. sa国际传媒淚t is essential that this board continue to provide sound governance and oversight as this transition proceeds.sa国际传媒�
Farnworth said on Nov. 16, when he announced Serrsa国际传媒檚 appointment, that it was made under Section 8 of the Police Amendment Act sa国际传媒渁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.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淎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,sa国际传媒� he said at the outset, adding hesa国际传媒檚 focused on moving the controversial policing transition forward sa国际传媒渋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, sa国际传媒渢hat goes to the director of police services for them to make a decision, recommendations or changes or what have you. Thatsa国际传媒檚 been in existence in the Police Act for a long time and has been used from time to time.sa国际传媒�
The boardsa国际传媒檚 next meeting is set for Jan. 25, unless Serr calls one before then.
sa国际传媒淚 deeply value civilian oversight,sa国际传媒� he said during SPBsa国际传媒檚 trimmed-down virtual meeting. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝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.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淚 am an independent administrator,sa国际传媒� he stressed. sa国际传媒淔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.sa国际传媒�
