Replacing RCMP not popular

At least one Halifax Regional councillorwon't support expanding the regional police force to cover the entire municipality, replacing more than 200 RCMP officers, as recommended by the Board of Police Commissioners.

The commissioners' report says the best option for the future involves expanding the regional police force and eliminating the RCMP, which now patrols outside the urban core.

CBC obtained the reporton Thursday. It will be presented to regional council behind closed doors on Monday.

Hammonds Plains-St. Margarets Bay Coun. Peter Lund said Friday that he hadn't seen the report yet, but his residents are already upset about the proposal.

"The people out here are totally against having Halifax Regional Police out here. They think that the RCMP should stick to the rural areas. That's where they've been policing since their inception, and they're very good at it," Lund said.

Lund said he's not convinced the move would save money. He pointed out that new equipment and new vehicles would have to be purchased.

Also, he said, even if there are some savings, it's not worth jeopardizing the protection systemalready in place.

Sarah Scallion of Prospect also believes the Mountiesare the best police force for the rural areas of Halifax.

"I think it's terrible. I don't believe in bringing city cops out in the neighbourhood," she said Friday.

"Let the Mounties do their job like they've always done out in the county. They say it's all one municipality. I don't care what they call it; we are not the city."

Rita Amyoony of Cole Harbour, likes the fact the RCMP detachment is just down the road because it makes her feel safer.

"They are everything in Cole Harbour. We need them badly, badly, in the whole community, actually," she said.

Commissioners voted in late January for a massive expansion of the existing municipal force as their No. 1choice.

If that goes ahead, some jobs would disappear. More than 200 RCMP officers now serve Cole Harbour, Lower Sackville, Tantallon and along the Eastern Shore.

The board, consistingof three regional councillors and three citizens, conducted a four-year review of police services in the region.

The police commissioners considered and ranked four options for the future of policing in the Halifax region. The board's second choice is maintaining the status quo.

All four options are scored out of 50. The expansion of the Halifax Regional Police force scored 42, while the status quo scored 40.6.