Press Releases

Chilliwack BC: In response to one of the recommendations from the Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia report to move to a provincial police force, Chilliwack City Council would like to publicly show their support of the RCMP, specifically the Upper Fraser Valley detachment.

“The City of Chilliwack has an excellent relationship with our local RCMP,” said Mayor Popove. “We are in regular communication with our Officer-in-Charge, Superintendent Davy Lee, and City staff and RCMP members work collaboratively on a regular basis, including having an RCMP member assigned full-time to our Emergency Operations Centre during the November and December storm events last year.”

Chilliwack’s Community Safety Plan, which was based on feedback from the Integrated Community Safety Task Force, identified that community safety extends beyond the reach of the RCMP. To ensure all residents are safe, feel safe, and have a sense of belonging, the Community Safety Plan highlights that creating a safe community involves many different organizations. In Chilliwack and throughout the province, there is a distinct need for many provincial and federal agencies to play an active role in prevention, health care, social services, sentencing, and more.

“We cannot expect the RCMP to try to police away urgent social and health care issues,” said Mayor Popove. “We need the provincial government to step up and support the mental and physical health needs of British Columbians.”

Through Chilliwack’s Community Safety Plan, the City of Chilliwack will continue to advocate for positive changes from all levels of government and ask that multiple agencies come together to address community safety concerns.