The Surrey RCMP is conducting an internal review after a police supervisor乌鸦传媒檚 memo slammed the South Community Response Unit for having 乌鸦传媒渄emonstrated their inability to perform the basic foundations of policing 101.乌鸦传媒�
Staff Sgt. Jag Saran乌鸦传媒檚 March 2 email, obtained by Global News, reads that he implemented a 乌鸦传媒渞eset乌鸦传媒� to the South CRU team. 乌鸦传媒淲e need to start from the basics, and make sure we demonstrate a sound knowledge of the basics of police work,乌鸦传媒� it reads.
Meantime, the team乌鸦传媒檚 surveillance privileges have been suspended nor can the unit work undercover or drive unmarked cars.
Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, in an interview with Global, confirmed an internal review is underway. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 very concerning and it乌鸦传媒檚 very disturbing and it undermines public confidence in policing,乌鸦传媒� Farnworth said. 乌鸦传媒淭he public needs to have confidence that when police are out on patrol or doing their duty out in the community that they are obeying the laws, they乌鸦传媒檙e following the procedures.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淚t starts with an internal review and there may be other consequences that flow from that,乌鸦传媒� Farnworth told Global.
What precipitated Saran乌鸦传媒檚 email concerning the unit乌鸦传媒檚 performance, the staff sergeant乌鸦传媒檚 email indicates, were 乌鸦传媒渢hroughout the year, there have been many incidents where there have been obvious breaches of law and policy乌鸦传媒� which resulted in 乌鸦传媒渕any charges being stayed, or not approved乌鸦传媒� as well as members not demonstrating the proper application of law and policy during traffic stops and investigations.乌鸦传媒�
Moreover, his email states, 乌鸦传媒淲ith the number of collisions and officer safety concerns documented in the past year, I have expressed my concern with the teams to ensure we do things right: follow the law and policy and keep each other safe. Our recent incident resulted in two vehicles being written off, four minor injuries, and property damage that the RCMP are on the hook for.
乌鸦传媒淚t may be the cost of doing business but, when you look at the big picture, was it worth putting each other at risk of serious bodily harm and risking public safety?乌鸦传媒�
Const. Sarbjit Sangha, of the Surrey RCMP乌鸦传媒檚 media section, told the Now-Leader on Thursday that a 乌鸦传媒減reliminary乌鸦传媒� review has yet to establish if any police actions resulted in stays in proceedings or charges not being approved on account of breaches in policy or law.
乌鸦传媒淭here is no information to date that indicates that this is anything more than inconsistencies in training or procedural awareness,乌鸦传媒� Sangha added. 乌鸦传媒淧rior to any determination being made by the ongoing review, a unit supervisor shared internal correspondence with members following the incident. The messaging contained some broad statements, which were made out of frustration and concern.乌鸦传媒�
Sangha noted that in late February members of the South Community Response Unit tried to stop a vehicle that was being driven 乌鸦传媒渆rratically乌鸦传媒� and it rammed a police vehicle as it left the scene. The suspect was arrested and faces charges of assaulting a peace officer and dangerous driving.
An internal review, she said, was initiated 乌鸦传媒渁s per standard practice乌鸦传媒� and 乌鸦传媒渢his process is part of our daily and regular operations at the detachment.乌鸦传媒�
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said she has spoken with Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards, officer in charge of the Surrey RCMP, on the matter but declined to comment while the investigation is underway.
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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