Editor, The News:
Re: Teaching aim (News Views, Sept. 28).
I agree with your editorial concerning the RCMP contract renewal, in which you state we’re getting a pretty good deal for our money.
They do have dedicated officers, who generally do a professional job given the challenging work that they do.
Yes, the RCMP have had some problems of late, but given the size and scope of their work they perform, it is to be expected.
There is simply no large organization in the world providing the level of services they do that does not make some mistakes from time to time.
And, do you really think that a provincial police force would not make similar mistakes?
Just look at health care and some of the mistakes made there over the years, like people dying due to human error.
As long as humans are at the helm, you’re going to have mistakes.
I am a bit concerned and surprised after reading another article on policing expenses, which were presented by RCMP Supt. Janice Armstrong to Maple Ridge council. Wow, our policing cost have really gone up since 2006.
Is there any way to curtail these rising police costs? Or, is it just something we’re going to have to live with and pay for?
It doesn’t help us when we have these new breeds of gangs, which are international in scope and increasingly violent in nature.
With this new level of violence, I guess we’ll just have to pay for these services to remain safe.
John McKenzie
Maple Ridge