Chilliwack Councillor Bud Mercer says public safety doesn’t mean just policing; Councillor Westeringh wishes some prolific offenders were behind bars permanently

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“We undertook a two-year examination of all aspects of the public safety puzzle in Chilliwack and area,” he said. “This included research on best practices around the world, local surveys, public consultation sessions, tabletop exercises, and issue-specific review sessions. We examined all parts of the public safety continuum: the facts, the myths, communication, what’s wrong, what’s right, where the gaps are, and how we, as a city, can improve.”

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Mercer says the findings of this multi-year process resulted in a city and government wide action plan. The plan has been in the implementation phase for a full year, with evident results and changes. These include Fraser Health’s commitment to trained, on-street resources dealing street-side with mental health and drug addiction calls for service and health. In many cases the police are now secondary if at all to these calls and interactions.

“We are not there 100 per cent yet, but we are on our way,” Mercer advised.

The downtown revitalization is moving along, Mercer said, with new and vibrant development.

“We now have a funded and dedicated group of police officers in a downtown office, on bicycles and on foot working side-by-side with bylaw, city, Fraser Health and private security personnel,” he said. “The feedback from business owners and visitors is that there is a remarkable improvement and a greater feeling of personal safety and security downtown. These are just two quick examples of the committee’s work to date. Much more has been done and there is much more to do. I am committed to make that happen.”

Councillor Chris Kloot said tackling crime and addressing community policing are multi-faceted and require constant advocacy with senior government officials.

“There are multi-layered levels of government working towards the same solutions,” he said. “Yet often times gaps are identified, and frustrations build in local government, as it seems like solutions that have been identified in a local perspective fall on deaf ears. It’s important that continued and consistent advocacy be brought to the attention of senior levels of government. Chilliwack has done an excellent job at this, and we continue to commit to do so.”

Image: Screenshot, Chilliwack City Council meeting on Sept. 20 / Councillor Chris Kloot says public safety requires constant advocacy and communication with senior levels of government.

Councillor Harv Westeringh said his frustration surrounding public safety lies with Crown counsel and how police are hamstrung when they deal with prolific offenders.

“I agree with [Councillor Mercer],” Westeringh said. “Right now, the main frustration we have is with Crown counsel. The police can apprehend offenders, but often, they are back out on the street tomorrow. It seems that ‘property crime’ is not that important to our justice system. And that is fueling the crime rate. We have some prolific offenders that need to get thrown in jail permanently.”

Image: Supplied by Councillor Harv Westeringh / Councillor Harv Westeringh wishes some prolific offenders were thrown into jail permanently.

Councillor Mercer’s full video statement on public safety is now available at his website: www.budmercer.ca .