Dear Editor:
Re: Bond lays down the law on policing, Burnaby NOW, June 1
In light of the current negative publicity the RCMP is receiving in the media, I heartily support Mayor (Derek) Corrigan's refusal to endorse the 20-year RCMP contract.
Even if the federal government introduces legislation to empower the commissioner to dismiss offenders and criminals such as Sgt. Don Ray and Cpl. Monte Robinson, it will still not provide the local control and accountability that is essential in the functions of law enforcement and security. Combined with the mayor's reservations about the known and unknown costs, I believe that executing a 20-year deal is in no way justifiable, and the provincial government was wrong to do so.
The structure and bureaucracy of the RCMP has time and again been shown to lie at the core of the numerous defects of this once proud national police force, and it is high time it was given a chance to restructure and reform by relieving it of its local policing responsibilities.
Since the province refuses to take the initiative in this matter, individual municipalities certainly can.
Thomas Hasek, Burnaby
