MAYOR MUST BE HONEST ABOUT POLICING

Re: Two Cities, Two Mayors One big Problem, Aug., 26

I read this article and was very interested by the quote that you
attribute to Mayor Sam Sullivan: "Most citizens are shocked to
discover that the police don't consider street disorder their mandate."

I'm shocked he would say that.

What exactly does he think our officers on the street spend the vast
majority of their available time doing?

The problem is we don't have the resources to consistently dedicate
enough officers to that issue alone.

Perhaps the mayor thinks it's unfortunate that police officers also
have to respond to emergency calls for service, investigate crimes
both serious and routine, write reports to Crown counsel to try to
get criminals off the street, and attend court to give evidence,
among other things.

Dealing with the drug, crime, and public disorder issues that plague
Vancouver requires a multi-faceted approach.

That includes following through on his commitment to the citizens to
hire more police officers.

It has been well established that having more officers on the street
does have a deterring effect on public disorder issues.

I could go on but I won't, except to say that the mayor has a
responsibility to be honest with the public when it comes to policing
and crime issues.

The police officers whom I represent, and the citizens in this
community deserve, nothing less.