DPD Chief Constable Neil Dubord. (Delta Police Department photo)

DPD Chief Constable Neil Dubord. (Delta Police Department photo)

COLUMN: Public plays a key role in community safety

Community a critical part of Delta's policing formula, writes DPD Chief Constable Neil Dubord

By Neil Dubord, Delta Police Department

Recently the Delta Police Department published the results of the 2018 Crime Severity Index (CSI). For the second year in a row, Delta Police received a new record-breaking low score — this year at just under 53 index points, comparing to the Canadian average of 75 index points.

Now I don’t say this to pat ourselves on the back; rather to thank you, our community, for working with our dedicated police officers to keep our community safe. The community is a critical part of the community policing formula that we are proud of in the City of Delta.

Let me give you an example: On Aug. 6, just before 6 a.m., the DPD were called by a community member to let us know that he observed two men who looked very suspicious. They were carrying black bags and walking northbound in the 800-block of Boundary Bay Road. The citizen observed the two people at a distance and watched them enter a trail on the east side of Boundary Bay Road.

A second citizen actually contacted police as well, minutes after the first call, also reporting two suspicious men in the area.

The DPD arrived in the area and conducted foot patrols, locating two men who matched the description given by the citizens. With some excellent investigation by our officers, one of the men was found to be in possession of stolen property. He was arrested and will face up to three charges for possession of property obtained by crime. The second man was found to be breaching the conditions of his release on another matter. A camp established by one of the men in Boundary Bay Regional Park was also discovered by police, and has been removed.

Now, our officers did a great job in this investigation but it would have never happened without those calls from our citizens. So, thank you for your commitment to working closely with our police department to ensure we have the “community” in community policing. We are a safer city as a result of you.

Neil Dubord is the chief constable of the Delta Police Department.

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