News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Drug-free Delta Plan A Little Too Ambitious |
| Title: | CN BC: Drug-free Delta Plan A Little Too Ambitious |
| Published On: | 2006-10-27 |
| Source: | South Delta Leader (CN BC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-12 23:32:57 |
DRUG-FREE DELTA PLAN A LITTLE TOO AMBITIOUS
An ambitious long-range police plan that calls for a "drug-free" Delta
by 2010 may not be achievable right away, some Delta Police Board
members said last Wednesday.
The department's 2007-2010 strategic plan outlines multiple goals
including a drug-free community, improved services for youth, better
emergency preparedness and crime reduction initiatives.
"We want to become the safest community in B.C." said Supt. Rich
Drinovz, the officer who presented the plan.
"This is going to mean a lot of work for everyone" Drinovz
added.
Police chief Jim Cessford conceded the plan, the product of intensive
consultation with different community groups, was "a little more
ambitious" than expected.
Board member Ray Carter expressed doubts the department can afford it
all, saying he isn't even sure the current approach of
"no-call-too-small" (where police respond to all criminal complaints
no matter how minor) can be maintained against a tide of rising costs
and tightening budgets.
"We don't know if that (policy) is going to be true after this" Carter
said.
Board chair Delta mayor Lois Jackson wouldn't go that far, but agreed
it's one thing to have a plan, another to finance it.
"We can't do it all," Jackson said.
Board member Ken Thornicroft said the plan was "excellent" but failed
to set priorities that would decide what gets cut first if there's not
enough of funds.
"My concern is there are not enough resources to meet them all"
Thornicroft said.
"I think we have to be realistic about this. Choices are going to have
to be made. It is just not possible that every action plan is doable
on a resource level."
Chief Cessford said it was too soon to be setting priorities, calling
the strategic plan a "broad-brush" approach that will be filled in as
individual police departments figure out what they need to implement
the goals.
"They'll get into the meat of it," Cessford said.
Deputy police chief Lyle Beaudoin said some elements of the plan might
have to be delayed once that review was completed.
An ambitious long-range police plan that calls for a "drug-free" Delta
by 2010 may not be achievable right away, some Delta Police Board
members said last Wednesday.
The department's 2007-2010 strategic plan outlines multiple goals
including a drug-free community, improved services for youth, better
emergency preparedness and crime reduction initiatives.
"We want to become the safest community in B.C." said Supt. Rich
Drinovz, the officer who presented the plan.
"This is going to mean a lot of work for everyone" Drinovz
added.
Police chief Jim Cessford conceded the plan, the product of intensive
consultation with different community groups, was "a little more
ambitious" than expected.
Board member Ray Carter expressed doubts the department can afford it
all, saying he isn't even sure the current approach of
"no-call-too-small" (where police respond to all criminal complaints
no matter how minor) can be maintained against a tide of rising costs
and tightening budgets.
"We don't know if that (policy) is going to be true after this" Carter
said.
Board chair Delta mayor Lois Jackson wouldn't go that far, but agreed
it's one thing to have a plan, another to finance it.
"We can't do it all," Jackson said.
Board member Ken Thornicroft said the plan was "excellent" but failed
to set priorities that would decide what gets cut first if there's not
enough of funds.
"My concern is there are not enough resources to meet them all"
Thornicroft said.
"I think we have to be realistic about this. Choices are going to have
to be made. It is just not possible that every action plan is doable
on a resource level."
Chief Cessford said it was too soon to be setting priorities, calling
the strategic plan a "broad-brush" approach that will be filled in as
individual police departments figure out what they need to implement
the goals.
"They'll get into the meat of it," Cessford said.
Deputy police chief Lyle Beaudoin said some elements of the plan might
have to be delayed once that review was completed.
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
