Residents reject RCMP policing for Grand Falls

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speakup

Those words spoken by North Ward candidate Arthelin Rossignol were echoed by the majority of the people who attended a public meeting on May 1, organized by the New Brunswick Police Association (NBPA) related to the findings of a public opinion poll. According to the poll conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. between April 6 and 13 on behalf of the NBPA, 88% of the respondents stated they were "highly satisfied" with the services provided by the Town Police Force.

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"In fact, among the 96 per cent of residents who had an opinion on the topic, close to nine in 10 indicated being satisfied with the Grand Falls Town Police," stated Louise Guerrette, NBPA spokesperson.

"Practically all the residents (93 per cent) indicated that their community should continue to have officers on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week," she added. "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," she added.

Rossignol and all the other candidates in the upcoming municipal elections each took their turn to present a short statement on the Grand Falls Town Council's controversial motion made last February to "determine the possibility and the cost of the RCMP becoming the police force in Grand Falls" which led to the NBPA's efforts to bring awareness on the issue to the people of Grand Falls, prior to the May 12th elections.

"Again, the Town of Grand Falls is faced with the possibility of changing its municipal police force for the RCMP. In 2004, the same scenario happened, but the town council decided otherwise after having looked at the facts and figures," Guerrette stated.

"This year, Mayor Paul Duffie told us that this was a ‘business decision' and that the ‘economic repercussions' would be huge for the town if this RCMP building wasn't built in Grand Falls. He said that the municipal police force was added to the equation in order to encourage the RCMP to build in Grand Falls. He said that the (RCMP) officers would settle here and that the tax base, etc., would grow for Grand Falls."

Mayor Duffie, as well as Town administrator Peter Michaud attended the meeting, sitting among the citizens but neither addressed the gathering. Both left before the end of the meeting.

Rossignol, as well as a few of the other candidates were adamant in their support for the town police force, while the remaining candidates preferred to make their decision on the issue once the cost study has been completed and the results provided to those who will be elected on May 12. However, most did tell the citizens attending the information meeting that they would then present the study's findings to the public prior to making a final decision on the issue.

Their views

"We had two meetings with consultants and RCMP higher-ups. We asked them if they could guarantee 24-hour protection with at least one officer always on duty in Grand Falls. Their answer was that if they had an emergency in another community, all of the officers would be needed there. Asked if they would enforce our by-laws, they said no and that wasn't within their mandate. At the present time, we have nothing to go on. Once these costs are known, we would present them and consult with the public. After knocking on more than 1,200 doors so far during this campaign, not one taxpayer I met wants to go with the RCMP. The public would have to change its mind in order for me to change my mind," stated Denise Lagacé-Rioux, who voted against the motion in February.

"A similar study was made on the same issue several years ago and it was found it would have been more expensive to replace the town police with the RCMP. Why another study now? I have fought to keep our municipal police force and it is not because we are in an election that I will change my mind," echoed Lee Chamberland, who also voted against the motion.

"I am in favour of the RCMP having their headquarters in Grand Falls but I want the town police to continue to serve our community," stated Martin Hébert, who served on the Town Police force for 34 years. "I did some checking prior to attending this meeting. In the Acadian Peninsula, there is often only one RCMP officer to cover its many communities. I prefer to be protected by the town police. The service is 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we get good protection."

"We're talking about money the town would receive in rent from the RCMP if the building would be built in Grand Falls. There is not enough money which can cover a person's life," stated Martin, who, if elected, promised he would look into the possibility of creating a regional police force to cover Grand Falls, Drummond and St. André.

"I was told of an incident in which a person was having a violent episode in a residence outside of the town police's jurisdiction. Paramedics, who had responded to the call, were requesting the presence of the RCMP. After a few hours of waiting, they asked the town police for assistance. Municipal officers responded within minutes and assisted the paramedics with the person," Martin said.

He also related the story of a serious injury accident which occurred last winter just outside the town limits.

"Again, the RCMP were called and after a few hours of waiting for them to show up, the people called the town police who attended the scene until the RCMP arrived," he added.

"In consideration of the current council's motion to explore the possibility of transferring policing responsibilities to the RCMP, please be mindful of premature and non-equivocal declarations of support for either position," stated Richard Keeley.

"In the absence of relevant facts, I believe candidates should first listen to the point of view of the citizens they intend to represent and if elected, must gather all relevant information in order to properly deliberate the matter in council. Any other approach to the campaign denies you, the silent majority, from exercising your right to consult an unbiased candidate and to rely on the judgment of a truly independent and transparent elected representative," he added.

"Whether or not a candidate has declared a position on the matter of our local police force, please take the time to learn about the individual looking to secure your vote. Consider your options wisely as your objective is to elect individuals that have the abilities and the conviction to effectively resolve all issues or take advantage of all opportunities over the next four years. Each citizen must consider this prospect and rise to the challenge by being patient with a review process which, unfortunately, has already begun and then act in the best interest of the greater community which is the primary objective of this election and what our community deserves," he concluded.

As for Guerrette's statement that Keely's comments meant he did not have any commitment towards the town police, the candidate took exception to that statement. "I personally take exception to the fact that you came to such a conclusion based on the fact that we do not have all the information," Keeley said. "I thank you for providing us with the information that you have but unless we have all of the information, we can't make a commitment either way on this issue. I would hope that you can appreciate the situation which we are in."

Around-the-clock protection

"It is important that the citizens know that at all times that there is around-the-clock protection from our police force on duty on our streets and that business people can rest assured that their establishments are being checked to avoid thefts and break-ins. We have always been well served by our municipal police force," stated Marcel Deschênes.

He added that he did not have any information available that would lead him to believe that the town police force should be disbanded. As for the quote requested by town officials from the RCMP, Deschênes stated that as far as he knows, no quote has as yet been provided.

If elected on May 12, he did make a pledge to "conduct an in-depth study of all the correspondence received concerning this matter. I can assure you that this will be looked into at length and furthermore, I pledge to inform the public of all the findings exactly as they are. You can count on me to get to the bottom of the situation but only after I have received all of the pertinent information related to this matter."

"We have a hot issue with a multitude of unanswered questions," stated Gildard Lavoie. "If the population is telling you that they want to keep the town police, are we willing to go against their wishes?"

Lavoie seemed to backtrack from his original support of the motion in February, adding that he would be open to restudying the possibility of creating a regional police force, an idea which was considered and seemingly abandoned in the past by former town councils.

"We need to determine which services we need and their costs as well as if they are within our means to pay for them. It is difficult to state tonight what will be the decision of the next town council. We need to find out what these costs would be and share the information with the public. It will be the citizens who will help us choose the best option," Lavoie added.

"This is an important matter and dialogue is crucial in order to obtain accurate information," stated Guy Bourgoin, who also supported the February motion. "In my years of experience on town council, I have prided myself in making decisions based on accurate information and after receiving all the facts regardless of the file in front of me. I do not make decisions lightly and the policing issue is no exception. The people of Grand Falls elect a municipal council knowing that its members will serve their best interests. That is democracy. Once elected, it is our job to examine issues which are directly relevant to the population and their tax dollars. A motion was passed a few months ago asking that a report be put together regarding the various policing options, their costs and their services. Democracy is about informed decision-making. As a councillor, I need to be informed. I need all the facts. This is why no decision has yet been made. That is why we must wait for the report in order to make the best possible decision for the people of Grand Falls."

"The motion was for a cost study," stated Renaud Ouellette, who also supported the motion. "If the RCMP builds its headquarters outside the town, we will lose the cells. We could either purchase the former headquarters for the town police to use or share services, such as the 911 service which is provided by Edmundston. Similar steps have been undertaken in the past to give more services to the public. Town council wants a business plan in place. We never committed on replacing the town police with the RCMP. Let's wait to get all the details and then inform the public before deciding on the future," he added.

"Gun to their heads"

"Our police force and its employees should not be traded for a building," stated Arthelin Rossignol, a former town police officer who retired two years ago. "It doesn't make sense. We only have to look back about 12 years ago when the RCMP replaced other municipal police forces. Make the best choice as to which candidates you feel better represent your interests and not the interests of a sole individual. Our police force should not be traded for a building," he added.

"The men and women who make up our town police have to go to work every day, with a smile on their faces, and all the while with a ‘gun to their heads' because of the threat of losing their jobs. This threat has been held above their heads any time there have been negotiations towards a new work contract. There is no hiding that fact. And, here we are again with the same threat this year. This situation has created a lot of stress and anxiety not only for these officers but also for many of our citizens," he said.

Chairman of Town Council's Police Committee, Verne Savage was absent when the motion was voted upon in February.

"What's brought this issue to the forefront is the fact that if the RCMP's new building goes to a community other than Grand Falls and if they close their present headquarters and we're left alone with ours, it will put a financial burden on our police force. I believe that we should be working side by side with them. This issue is all about dollars and cents and we have to go with what is the best decision. As far as the police department we have, I have no problem working with them. I think they are a great force. I'll keep our police force as long as it his financially viable but if we lose the RCMP building, it could create problems," he stated.

"The decision will not only rest with town council," stated Jacques LaFrance, whose father served for many years on the town police force prior to his retirement a few years ago. "This issue has to go through both the federal and provincial governments. Both levels of government will have to study this file and they will be responsible for the final decision as to where the building goes. This will have a big impact on our community. I hope the study can also suggest a regional police force. We need to decide what is the best way to serve our population. I am in favour of the status quo as well as the creation of a committee which would have elected officials, police representatives and community members. There has been no indication on the part of the community to replace the town police."

"A process of making change is usually difficult, controversial and with a slim chance of success. Job losses, particularly among a well-liked group, produce hard feelings, no matter how fair that process can be.

Some of the citizens I have visited in the past few weeks have questioned me on the unity of the police officers. They have to be the ones to make that assessment and to fix their differences. With good leadership and communication, it will work better. I prefer to stop the initiative for the right reasons versus moving ahead with a new structure for the wrong reasons," stated LaFrance.

"It is an important decision and we need to look at everything," stated Luc Levesque. "People have told me they want a change as it pertains to town council but not the police force. How can we compare the costs and quality of service when we only have one side of the issue?

The costs worry me. Right now, we control the costs up to a certain point. I am keeping an open mind. My heart tells me to keep the town police. As for cutting costs, why not have our 911 dispatching service here in Grand Falls and thus create two to three jobs for our people?"

Levesque was critical of one aspect of the poll done by the NBPA.

"I have knocked on a lot of doors over the past weeks. A few people who were called for the poll told me they felt intimated when told that it was being done on behalf of the NBPA. A survey has to be anonymous. They were also asked for their names and phone numbers which they also found intimidating. These should not have been asked," he said.

"I have worked with the town police and the RCMP and I was always well served by both," stated Rino Long. "I was a bit confused by the vocabulary used in the NBPA's advertised messages. I found it to be a bit biased. Let's wait for the cost study results. We need to think seriously on this issue. The people I have spoken to have told me they want to keep the town police and I don't blame them. We want police officers to be present and be well trained," he added.

"Safety, costs and service worry me," stated Gaston Daigle. "Policing should not be used as a negotiation tool. So what if the cells are in St. Leonard or St. André, for example. It is a 15-minute ride away. The Perth-Andover RCMP travels from that area to Grand Falls to bring its prisoners to the cells. It's a 35-minute ride. I don't believe in reducing services. The crime rate will then go up," he added. "However, we do need to look at the other side of the issue. We must talk about it. I want to keep our police force."

"I find it deplorable that so much focus has been put on this issue when there are many more issues we need to look at. The people have spoken, albeit through the poll. Let's keep our police force. I will listen to all the issues. I am sure that the next elected council will make the best decision possible. I have talked to more than 300 persons so far during this campaign and I am leaning towards keeping the town police force because this is what the people are telling they want," stated Michel (Rocky) Ouellette.

"The idea of having the RCMP replace the town police has been discussed for the past seven years. The question tonight is do I support our town police. The answer is yes. People in this town feel safe and appreciate their presence. What will happen to the RCMP building and the cells? I have no answer to give. But, it is my opinion that to replace a municipal police force by the RCMP will not be the answer," stated Daniel Ouellette.

"I have called people in communities where the RCMP replaced a municipal police force. People tell me the RCMP's visibility is almost non-existent and response time is inadequate," stated Mario Pelletier, who voted against the motion in February.

Pelletier, who is a Canada Border Services customs agent, related the story of having to wait for two hours for an RCMP officer to attend the St. Leonard customs port after an intoxicated person had been detained by Customs staff. "When a similar incident occurred at the Grand Falls port, a town police officer responded within five minutes," Pelletier said. "The issue is this - do we trade our police force in exchange for a building? No!"

A coincidence

"It's blackmail on the part of the RCMP. If their headquarters are not built in Grand Falls and town council does not replace the town police with the RCMP, then there won't be a building," stated Pierre Cyr, one of the citizens to raise his concerns during the meeting's question period. "Once the elections are done, will there be further consultation with the public on this issue?"

"You are making this out to be a political game," stated Jacques Levesque, another citizen. "Will the final decision be politically or community-based?"

"Yes, it has been a coincidence that contract negotiations with the town police and municipal elections occur the same year," Gildard Lavoie said, but denied that officers were threatened with being replaced with the RCMP during these same negotiations. "The decision will be a community one."

"Future plans in regards to the town police could include the creation of partnerships with other communities, such as with a regional police force," Lavoie said. "I would like to see such a partnership. We also have to respect our capacity to pay."

Rita Boucher, whose husband Donald Ruest works as a police officer with the town police, stated that there are no guarantees that any town police officer would automatically be integrated within the RCMP if town council should decide to go that route.

"This should also be part of the discussion on this issue," she said. "Transparency is not there even though we may want it to be. Politics are very strong and have a long arm," Boucher said, adding that the police force "needs a strong chief" as well.

"We want the RCMP headquarters to be built in Grand Falls and that both police forces be located in the same building," stated Guy Bourgoin. "That is the vision of the town council. That has been the number one goal of council from the beginning," he added.

That statement brought Mario Pelletier to his feet.

"Where is this vision mentioned in the motion you voted on last February? People need to be consulted on this issue," stated Pelletier.

He then went on to read the February motion: "Following discussions with the RCMP regarding the construction of a regional office in Grand Falls, that negotiations start with the ‘J' Division of the RCMP in order to determine the possibility and the cost of the RCMP becoming the police force in Grand Falls".

"The motion contains the word ‘possibility'," responded a visibly upset Bourgoin. "When the time comes, the costs will need to be addressed and a difficult decision will need to be made," he said.

Going through hell

"There are some of you here tonight, sitting on that stage, who have seen both sides of the issue in the past as elected officials. If the costs should be about the same between the two police forces, but the number of officers be reduced, will the quality of service be the same? As a police officer with 22 years of service with the town police, I find it very difficult to consider my future and that of my fellow officers with this hanging over our heads," stated Sgt. Bernard Albert.

"It is not our goal in making our request for a cost study to the RCMP to replace the town police," stated Renaud Ouellette. "However, town council must often make decisions which do not always meet with the public's approval. The RCMP told us point blank that if we did not go with them, that the building would not be located in Grand Falls. There are also financial issues we need to look at in the best interest of the population."

"In Caraquet, the eight-member RCMP force costs the municipality about $1 million per year and the population feels it is not getting its money's worth," stated Martin Hébert. "Town Council has always threatened to replace the town police with the RCMP."

"Somebody, somewhere is not telling the truth. You only have to read the motion itself," stated Arthelin Rossignol in targeting Ouellette and Bourgoin with his comment. "The request was made to ‘replace' the town police. These officers go to work every morning with a gun to their heads."

"I want to thank the public which is supporting our officers. We, as members of the town police force, have been and are still under a great deal of pressure. We have to come into work every morning and face our employer who wants to get rid of us. Which among the next elected members of town council will present a motion to finally close this issue? When the first phase of the new town hall was initiated, it was not done according to the blueprints which featured cells. These were not put in, because we had access to the RCMP cells at that time. We are going through hell right now," stated Town Police Sgt. Chanel Roy.