Moncton explores policing options

Moncton's assistant city manager is trying to convince Dieppe and Riverview officials to agree to pay a bigger share of the Codiac Regional RCMP budget.

If a deal can't be reached by the end of June, Don MacLellan has to have two other policing options ready for council's consideration a separate Moncton RCMP detachment or a new municipal force.

'We've had one meeting with representatives from our sister communities, and it's early, it's early in the game.' Don MacLellan, Moncton assistant city manager

"We've had one meeting with representatives from our sister communities, and it's early, it's early in the game," he said.

Last month, Moncton council voted to pull out of the Codiac Regional RCMP agreement, saying it's too expensive for Moncton taxpayers because Dieppe and Riverview are not paying their fair share.

As it stands, the average cost of RCMP service in Moncton for a $140,000 home is $467, while it's only $387 in Riverview and $245 in Dieppe, according to city officials.

No one to set up municipal force

Moncton hopes to maintain the current level of service, but reduce costs through alternate delivery mechanisms or other improvements, said MacLellan.

He can negotiate with the RCMP, but the city hasn't been able to find somebody willing to set up a municipal force.

Although the New Brunswick Police Association has lobbied the province to set up its own police force, it's a union and cannot run a police service, he said.

"We really don't have a proponent or anyone who is waiting in the wings to set up this municipal force for us."

The city hopes to find somebody, such as a former police chief or other experts, to offer advice on the costs and practicality of setting up its own force in the coming weeks, MacLellan said.

The Codiac RCMP took over policing services in the greater Moncton region in 1999 under orders from the Liberal government of the day. The contract expires in 2012.

A consultant's report received by council March 11 recommended the city stay with a regional RCMP force. Creating a separate Moncton RCMP detachment or a municipal force would cost too much money to start up, the 220-page report suggested.

The report also found that Moncton represents 66 per cent of the population served by the Codiac RCMP, but pays a higher percentage of the $17-million annual cost of the force, about 75 per cent.

The New Brunswick Police Association has said a municipal force could do what the RCMP does for Moncton but for about $6 million less a year, due to lower salaries.