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The approval numbers are a politician's dream come true. A public opinion survey of Grand Falls residents indicated that 85 per cent were satisfied with the town's 16- member municipal police force, and only 30 per cent of the survey respondents want to replace the municipal force with the RCMP.

"We are very satisfied with the survey. For our members it is a vote of confidence, from the population of Grand Falls and our residents," stated Chenel Roy, an investigator with the Grand Falls Town Police force and the local union rep. "You can imagine the pressure that our members had to go through and still have to go through following that motion that was passed by the council to replace us with an RCMP force."

Roy stated the survey provided support that the Grand Falls Town Police members are handling community police duties professionally and responsibly.

"We want to encourage residents to voice their opinions come May 12 election day," the officer stated.

The New Brunswick Police Association released the public opinion survey prepared for the association by Corporate Research Associates on April 30, one day before a public meeting organized by the police was held with municipal council candidates. The CRA telephone survey of 202 residents in Grand Falls provided results considered accurate plus or minus 6.8 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

The survey and campaign to keep the municipal force was sparked by a town council motion passed in February which stated "following discussions undertaken with the RCMP towards the construction of a regional headquarters in Grand Falls, that negotiations be initiated with the RCMP's "J" Division to determine the possibility and cost for the RCMP to become the police force in Grand Falls."

The survey determined that 68 per cent of Grand Falls residents contacted with April 6 to 13 were aware of "an important topic" in the community and most knew the issue involved policing.

"With regards to current policing services in Grand Falls, most residents recognize that it is a local police force rather than the RCMP who is responsible for protecting the citizens and businesses of the region. Residents are also highly satisfied with the services received

from their local police force. In fact, among the 96 per cent of residents who had an opinion on this topic, close to 9 in 10 (88) indicated being satisfied with the Grand Falls Town Police," Dean Secord, president of the New Brunswick Police Association, stated. "Consistent, 24 hour and 7 days per week protection is highly important for Grand Falls residents. Practically all residents (93 per cent) indicated that their community should continue to have officers on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week."

Secord said the survey results show "there is a vast opposition" to the outgoing Grand Falls Town Council's decision to consider changing from the current municipal police force to an RCMP police force in Grand Falls.

"Over three-quarters of those who have a definite opinion on the topic oppose the decision to change to an RCMP policing body. Considering that participants were highly unaware of the specific implications of replacing their current town police with the RCMP, this level of opposition (77 per cent) is quite significant. In fact, the majority of those contacted were not aware that the RCMP would not offer Grand Falls residents and businesses 24/7 police protection or that the cost of an RCMP officer is 60 per cent higher than a current town officer…. Given that those who were aware of these facts were significantly more likely to be opposed to the replacement of the town police than those who were not aware, it can be assumed that if the population were more informed on the topic, opposition would be even stronger."

Secord said current police officers are seen as satisfying the needs of the region. The CRA poll stated that when deciding which police force, the RCMP or the Grand Falls Police, would best satisfy a number of specific service criteria, Grand Falls residents were most positively in favour of the Grand Falls police on each of those criteria. Notably, the Grand Falls town police is considered significantly more likely to deliver services at a cheaper cost than the RCMP, as well as much more likely to have a stronger commitment to the community.

A narrower gap between scores for the RCMP and the Grand Falls town police on the topic of "best overall policing services" shows a less discernable difference between the two police forces.

At the end of the study, Grand Falls residents were questioned on specific elements regarding policing services of the region. This revealed a generally uninformed population when it comes to the implications and specific facts surrounding the change to an RCMP police force.

"Throughout the study, males and residents with higher socio -economic profiles continuously demonstrated a higher level of information on each aspect of this topic than other groups. Additionally, adults who expressed being opposed to the change to an RCMP police force were also generally more informed on issues," the survey stated.

Bob Davidson, NBPA representative, said the police association is very proud that the majority of Grand Falls residents - 85 per cent - were satisfied with the level of service provided by the municipal force.

"Only one in 10 were not satisfied (with the town police)…. Clearly just about everyone wants 24 hours a day, seven-day a week protection. Naturally with the 60 per cent higher costs than the RCMP that has not been provided in the smaller communities. It hasn't been provided in Sackville since the RCMP took over policing duties."

When questioned about the 60 per cent increase, Davidson replied that the NBPA came to that figure based on dividing the total municipal police budget by the number of officers, which came to $94,000, compared to $150,000 per officer estimated for RCMP services.

"The survey indicated residents believe Grand Falls police would provide the cheapest costs, deliver the highest commitment to the citizens and businesses of Grand Falls, provide officers on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week and provide the best overall services."

Davidson said 56 per cent of the respondents were not aware the RCMP would cost more than a municipal force, so the opposition to incorporate RCMP policing in Grand Falls would increase once residents became aware of policing increases.

"This survey was done between April 6 and 13. We believe clearly that as we march forward and the media report this, there is a public meeting tomorrow night, that figure will increase quite dramatically."

Davidson said the big affirmation will be on May 12 when Grand Falls residents choose the new municipal council.

"This survey gives the officers a vote of confidence. The morale has been low and the stress level has been high. When the residents and the businesses respond this way it is good for the heart and soul of the officers. They have been there for the citizens for 100 years and the citizens are going to be there for them…. We think the awareness (of the issue) is going up all the time and we believe on May 12 the survey that really counts and the residents are going to support the police in a big way… Whether this 100-year -old police force continues or not will be decided on May 12 by the citizens of Grand Falls. We hope that they get out and vote," Davidson stated.