HRM council votes to keep RCMP

Halifax regional council has decided to maintain the status quo and keep the RCMP policing suburban areas of the municipality.

After two days of closed door discussion, council voted on the divisive issue late Tuesday afternoon.

Councillors discussed a report, obtained by CBC News, that suggested Halifax regional police should take over all areas in the region currently policed by the RCMP.

That would mean replacing 200 RCMP officers, who now patrol outside urban areas such as Cole Harbour and Lower Sackville.

"Council was presented with detailed, comprehensive information on which to base its decision," Mayor Peter Kelly said in a release. "After careful consideration, council endorsed the status quo."

Coun. Russell Walker, chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners, which conducted a three year study of policiing, said the decision affirms council has confidence in the high quality public service provided by Halifax regional police and the RCMP.

"Ultimately, the police commission did its work, met council's request and the public knows that this municipality has demonstrated full confidence in both of its policing agencies,"Walker said.

Council's decision is dependent upon how much more the federal and provincial governments would charge the city to keep the RCMP on patrol.

Immediately after the vote, Kelly headed to Premier Darrell Dexter's office for a late afternoon meeting to explain council's concerns. Kelly said if funding for policing does change, then theissue will be back on the table.

Earlier Kelly admitted it was a very divisive issue for council.

Rural councillorsopposed the idea of getting rid of the Mounties.Leaked reports suggested it could mean millions of dollars in savings if the switch was made to city policing.

The Board of Police Commissioners had recommended expanding the regional police force to cover the entire municipality.

The police commissioners considered and ranked four options for the future of policing in the Halifax region. The board's second choicewas maintaining the status quo.