The reduction of the RCMP Downtown Enforcement Unit from five members to three is not a major issue - as long as the additional officers are restored in spring, according to city councillor Cameron Stolz.
Traditionally, Prince George's downtown has less problems with crime during the cold winter months, Stolz said.
"Our [RCMP] superintendent has recognized that our downtown enforcement unit has made a significant difference in our downtown," Stolz said. "As long as he's willing to take that number to five [officers] in the summer, I'm not concerned. I would see this as the superintendent being productive with his resources."
On Oct. 17, RCMP Supt. Eric Stubbs presented city council with a request for additional funding for the Downtown Enforcement Unit - which has been operated as a pilot project since April, 2010.
Stubbs spelled out five options for the future of the unit: maintain the status quo, dissolve the unit, reduce the unit to three staff, fund all five positions in the DEU, or fund three positions and return two officers back to their units.
Funding all five officers in the unit would have cost $560,718 in 2012 and $768,125 in 2013. Funding three positions would have cost $336,431 in 2012 and $460,875 in 2013.
On Oct. 24, city council's committee of the whole - made up of all members of council - voted unanimously to reject the request. The committee's recommendation was for the proposal to not be considered during 2012 budget deliberations.
"I can say for myself I firmly believe the Downtown Enforcement Unit is absolutely essential for making our downtown turn around," Stolz said. "I'm not willing to back away from the five-man unit. We can manage the five-man unit with the resources they have."
Mayor elect Shari Green made getting tough on crime a major plank in her platform. Green could not be reached for comment as of press time, but in previous interviews said she strongly supports maintaining the unit at five members - without additional funding.
Initiatives Prince George director of downtown initiatives Tara Bogh, who is a member of the City of Prince George's Downtown Partnership, said the unit has made a significant difference downtown.
"They've seen a significant decline in crime downtown," Bogh said. "I'm pretty confident in the RCMP superintendent's ability to monitor the location of crime and restore the unit if there is an increase in crime downtown. The conditions in the downtown have definitely improved - so we'd like to see that situation maintained."
The RCMP are part of the Downtown Partnership, Bogh added.
A spokesperson for the Downtown Business Improvement Association could not be reached as of press time.
