Cloverdale MLA Criticizes NDP on Public Safety Training Shortfalls

Elenore Sturko, the Independent Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Surrey-Cloverdale, has voiced strong concerns regarding the British Columbia government’s planning for police training. Following the announcement on October 10, 2023, that the Justice Institute of B.C. (JIBC) would receive an expansion of only 96 training spots—bringing the total to 288—Sturko emphasized that this increase is inadequate given the projected demand for police personnel in the province.

Sturko highlighted alarming figures indicating that British Columbia is expected to see approximately 5,000 job openings in law enforcement over the next decade. To effectively address this anticipated need, she argues that the JIBC should expand its capacity by an additional 212 spots. “It’s also six years overdue,” Sturko remarked, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

The MLA pointed out that the lack of sufficient police training capacity has persisted since the approval of the Surrey Police Service (SPS) in 2019. Sturko criticized the government for allowing the SPS’s establishment without a corresponding increase in training facilities, which she believes has led to a detrimental effect on recruitment and retention across the Lower Mainland. “Approval of the SPS without an immediate corresponding increase in training capacity created a situation where local police agencies have been forced to poach experienced officers from one another,” she explained.

Sturko’s support for the SPS remains firm, but she contends that a comprehensive plan should have been developed to consider the regional impacts of the transition from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to the new municipal service. “Instead, the transition proceeded based on assumptions about the number of RCMP officers who would patch over,” she added, revealing that far fewer officers than anticipated opted to join the SPS.

The shortage of trained officers has left police forces across British Columbia struggling to meet public safety demands. Sturko emphasized that solutions must be implemented that not only address current shortfalls but also account for future requirements in law enforcement training.

The MLA’s fervent call for action reflects broader concerns about public safety and the adequacy of police training in the province. As the situation develops, the implications for community safety and law enforcement operations in British Columbia remain significant.