Options for Service Delivery in the Greater Vancouver Region: A Discussion Paper of the Issues Surrounding the Regionalization of Police Services Prepared by the Planning, Research and Audit Section For The Vancouver Police Board and Chief Constable Jim Chu With assistance from: Curt Taylor Griffiths, PhD and Stephen Easton, PhD Simon Fraser University February 2008 Options for Service Delivery in the Greater Vancouver Region: A Discussion Paper of the Issues Surrounding the Regionalization of Police Services Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................III INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................1 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT............................................................................................5 The Current Arrangements for Police Service Delivery in the GVR .......................................... 5 Project Method ........................................................................................................................ 5 ISSUES SURROUNDING THE REGIONALIZATION OF POLICE SERVICES ..........................................6 Arguments Offered in Support of Creating a Regional Police Service ..................................... 6 1. COMMUNICATION............................................................................................................................ 6 2. FINANCIAL BENEFITS......................................................................................................................... 7 3. PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................... 7 4. COMMUNITY RELATIONS .................................................................................................................. 7 5. EFFECTIVENESS IN PROVIDING SAFETY AND SECURITY ............................................................................. 7 Arguments Offered in Opposition to the Creation of Regional Police Services ....................... 8 1. START UP COSTS .............................................................................................................................. 8 2. DECLINE IN SERVICE LEVELS................................................................................................................ 8 3. PERSONNEL ISSUES ........................................................................................................................... 8 4. DOMINATION .................................................................................................................................. 8 5. EFFECTIVENESS ................................................................................................................................9 6. LOSS OF CONTROL............................................................................................................................ 9 POLICING SERVICES IN THE GVR: CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS AND CONCERNS WITH CURRENT STRUCTURE..................................................................................................................9 Service Disparities.................................................................................................................. 11 COMPARISON OF POLICE SERVICES........................................................................................................ 11 Examples of services provided by larger agencies...................................................................................11 Services that GVR agencies share............................................................................................................12 Duplication of Services.............................................................................................................................12 WEAK REGIONAL CRIME VOICE ............................................................................................................ 13 The (Census Metropolitan Area) CMA Phenomenon...............................................................................13 Crime Analysis .........................................................................................................................................15 ACCOUNTABILITY ............................................................................................................................... 15 Inconsistent Public Complaint Process.....................................................................................................16 Liability................................................................................................................................... 16 Coordination Gaps ................................................................................................................. 17 INVESTIGATIONS ................................................................................................................................18 Priorities ..................................................................................................................................................18 HUMAN RESOURCES........................................................................................................................... 18 Professional and Career Development ....................................................................................................19 Recruitment .............................................................................................................................................19 Retention .................................................................................................................................................19 ‐ i ‐ Options for Service Delivery in the Greater Vancouver Region: A Discussion Paper of the Issues Surrounding the Regionalization of Police Services SECONDMENTS.................................................................................................................................. 19 Economic Disparities.............................................................................................................. 20 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................. 20 ECONOMIC INEFFICIENCIES .................................................................................................................. 20 MEASURING POLICE COSTS BUT NOT POLICE SERVICE .............................................................................. 21 TAX COLLECTION AND SUBSIDIES .......................................................................................................... 22 The US Example ...................................................................................................................................... 23 FREE RIDING ..................................................................................................................................... 24 ECONOMIES OF SCALE......................................................................................................................... 25 Benefits of Current Structure ................................................................................................. 25 COST BENEFITS.................................................................................................................................. 25 AMALGAMATING AND REGIONALIZING POLICE: THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE............................26 Policing Issues and Regionalization ....................................................................................... 27 RECRUITING AND RETENTION ............................................................................................................... 27 GROWTH AND CRIME ......................................................................................................................... 27 PATROL AND INVESTIGATIVE DEPLOYMENT............................................................................................. 27 COST ISSUES...................................................................................................................................... 28 THE MAYORS .................................................................................................................................... 29 COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS ................................................................................................................... 29 The Community...................................................................................................................... 29 COMMUNITY INPUT............................................................................................................................ 31 POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE COMMUNITY........................................................................................ 31 Planning ................................................................................................................................. 32 LESSONS LEARNED.............................................................................................................................. 32 The Halifax “Blended” Policing Model .................................................................................................... 33 DIFFICULTIES WITH THE “BLENDED” RCMP/MUNICIPAL MODEL ............................................................... 33 BENEFITS OF THE “BLENDED” RCMP/MUNICIPAL MODEL.......................................................................