PITT MEADOWS, BC – Both the City of Pitt Meadows and the City of Maple Ridge have seen tremendous growth over the last decade or more resulting in new challenges in the way the Ridge Meadows RCMP Detachment delivers services to each community.
As a national police force, the RCMP has access to technologies and evidence based best practices developed here in our community and in communities across the country, to address the scope and context of new challenges that both communities are dealing with on a day-to-day basis.
One of the most important roles of local government is public safety. The cities of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge have come together to work with the RCMP on a Policing Service Review that will look at how local RCMP resources can be deployed to enhance service and responsiveness to citizens in both communities.
“Before I became a Councillor and Mayor of the City of Pitt Meadows I had the honour to serve as the Officer in Charge of the Ridge Meadows RCMP Detachment. I fully understand the pressures as well as changing complexities and challenges on our RCMP to address community expectations and within the broader context of the criminal justice system. This review is an opportunity for Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and the RCMP to collaborate and explore new opportunities to enhance public safety in our region to keep pace and address the changing environment, emerging challenges and population growth in the decades to come. The RCMP has the full support of our Council and we recognize and appreciate the dedication, commitment and sacrifices made every day to protect both communities. We look forward to the collaboration, discussions and outcomes that will enhance public safety and public confidence,” said Pitt Meadows Mayor Bill Dingwall.
“The City of Maple Ridge is a fast growing city that is currently dealing with the impacts of complex urban problems that are affecting local government in every city in the region. This service review will allow us to work with the RCMP to understand what’s happening here in our community and ensure that our public safety delivery meets the needs of our citizens and businesses. We look forward to working together with the RCMP leadership team to develop a dynamic and responsive policing model that serves us all now and for our future,” said Maple Ridge Mayor Mike Morden.
“This initiative by the City of Maple Ridge and the City of Pitt Meadows is an opportunity for the RCMP to work collaboratively as a partner to ensure that the Ridge Meadows Detachment resources and deployment model is responsive to ever-evolving community needs. Our Detachment is always looking for ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of policing and this type of review is one tool that the RCMP and its city partners can use to help us attain that objective,” said Superintendent Jennifer Hyland, Officer in Charge of the Ridge Meadows RCMP Detachment.
Details and progress on the service review will be shared through each agencies media channels as it becomes available in the coming weeks.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge,
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca
p. 604.460.6704