Some argue a provincial police force would be better, and some push a merger or amalgamation [between the RCMP and private police forces] as the future.
All these suggestions sound good as long as it can provide the same or improved level of service and functionality while cutting back costs.
The problem is that in any major changes, there will be a huge requirement of associated expense costs. These costs may ultimately result in cuts to frontline services to gain more immediate required/demanded savings.
Another major problem with all this centralization is too many eggs are being put into one box, and the effects of any serious failure of systems can cause undue catastrophe.
Policing is as much about diversifying and spreading out defensive and emergency services.
Cost savings may be a necessity, but creating much greater risk factors is a false economy, and a dangerous one.
I’ve been an RCMP officer, as were my father and grandfather. That’s more than half my life, longer than any of my romantic relationships and four years more than my oldest son was on his last birthday
That’s quite a commitment. The same commitment British Columbians will need to have if, and when, they have made a deliberate and informed choice.
William Perry
Victoria
