New Moncton police force cheaper: group

The New Brunswick Police Association is launching an advertising campaign to try to convince Moncton city politicians to set up a municipal force.

Moncton city council opened the door in April to pulling out of the Codiac RCMP after years of complaining about the cost-sharing deal the southeastern New Brunswick city has with its neighbouring communities of Dieppe and Riverview.

The police association's ads, which have run in print media and on radio stations, say a municipal force would hire more local people, would be bilingual and would be cheaper.

Dan Secord, the president of the police association, has been trying for six years to convince Moncton to switch back to a municipal force.

"We're saying that if you go to a municipal police force you could save $5-to $6-million," Secord said.

When Moncton council voted to pull out of the Codiac Regional RCMP agreement, it was argued that it was too expensive for Moncton taxpayers because Dieppe and Riverview are not paying their fair share. The average cost of RCMP service in Moncton for a $140,000 home is $467, while it's only $387 in Riverview and $245 in Dieppe, according to city officials.

Three options

Moncton's city staff have until the end of June to prepare a report for the mayor and council on three policing options: keeping the Codiac RCMP, setting up a separate Moncton-only RCMP detachment or creating a new municipal force.

The RCMP has argued that one of its strengths is its ability to provide bilingual officers, citing the fact that 85 per cent of the Codiac detachment is bilingual.

Secord said he's now worked out a deal to make sure there are enough bilingual officers in Moncton.

"If you don't get enough to apply then the Atlantic Police Academy would put on a class for bilingual officers," he said.

The association's commercial also says a municipal force would hire more residents and provide better jobs to local people.

The RCMP challenges those assertions.

RCMP Const. Chantal Farrah said half the officers are from greater Moncton a two-thirds are from the Maritimes.

"It's important for them to know that there are a lot of us that are from here," Farrah said.

"We're proud to be working in our community and we do our best to give the best policing service."

She says many officers have worked in detachments across the country, gaining experience, which they've brought home.