Editor: Re: Police chief responds to CUPE concerns, Aug. 14 Chief Jim Cessford's comments would lead readers to believe there are renovations happening within the jail cells when he states that "...the move would be temporary until renovations can be done to upgrade the current facility. He said that the current cell block at the headquarters in Ladner is in need of major renovations to ensure the safety of prisoners, officers and staff, which will cost $1-$1.5 million."
The figures reflected in the report that was initially presented to the Delta police board late last year stated the cost of renovations to upgrade the facility to RCMP standards would be approximately $800,000 inclusive of consulting fees.
The casual reader would think construction is underway or will be soon. The simple truth is there are no renovations planned, now or at any point in the future. This closure is permanent.
The department has not, to my knowledge (and I have asked the question), made a request for capital funding to upgrade the existing facilities. It doesn't plan to seek this funding either because I have asked that question as well. This closure is not temporary.
Our jails will be closed until a new police headquarters is built in Delta, and there are no plans for that from Delta council in the foreseeable future.
I'm also concerned the chief simply glossed over concerns about our officers spending so much time in Surrey. CUPE has asked on more than one occasion if they have assessed the loss of policing time to Delta in this move. Our questions have been unanswered to date, and it continues in this article.
As for dispatch, EComm is looking to add other agencies, and there is a review currently taking place within the department about this service and how it's performed. The department hosted an internal discussion forum in July and the majority of the posts on the forum expressed concern with losing the local dispatchers.
One concern with going to E-Comm is that dispatchers assigned to Delta could, and likely will, be pulled to service other communities during their shift.
It is the 125th anniversary of the Delta police. They spent thousands of dollars to redesign their crest and modify their branding, yet they are also cutting civilian staff by closing the jail cells and they are considering doing the same with our dispatchers.
I believe the staff at the Delta Police Department does a tremendous job, both uniformed and civilian. It's disappointing to be losing staff because of the lack of political will to make the necessary upgrades to our jail.
This will have an impact on local policing and I think our police department needs to be upfront about what exactly the plan is here. I am hopeful they are prepared to answer some of those questions publicly when they present this contracting out proposal to Delta council.
Darryl Robison
President CUPE Local 454
