To the Editor,
It is unrealistic to expect our local police force to fulfill their mandate without adequate funding. Our city’s changing dynamic of homelessness, drug addiction and population increase have put a great deal more demands on our Port Alberni RCMP.
How can the public expect the police to do their job unless they have the personnel and resources they need? For years I have begged the mayor and council to have the police enforce traffic laws; this has fallen on deaf ears. There are so many demands on our detachment that they cannot provide a dedicated traffic division.
I am disappointed with a mayor and council that can spend (north of) $5 million (along with the matching grant) on their Quay to Quay walkway, plus an additional $1.2 million from the City’s Reserve Fund for the fancy lighting (no matching funds) and yet there has been no significant increase in the RCMP budget and no increase in personnel for a number of years.
I suggest city council keep the safety of our citizens in mind and use some (or all) of the $1.2 million they saved on the walkway when “it came in under budget” (Alberni Valley News, Sept. 2, 2024). How about a couple of additional officers for our detachment?
R.L. (Dusty) Miller,
Port Alberni
