性视界传媒 RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards issued a statement Sunday morning saying that he will not tolerate 鈥渄eliberate鈥� attempts made by Mayor Doug McCallum鈥檚 Safe 性视界传媒 Coalition to undermine public safety in 性视界传媒.

鈥淩ecently, several communications have been released to the public, which I believe have been a deliberate attempt to undermine public safety in 性视界传媒, by eroding public confidence in policing at the current time,鈥� Edwards said in the statement.

鈥淲hether it is releasing inaccurate statistical data, or mocking current public safety initiatives, I will not allow harmful rhetoric, to jeopardize public safety.鈥�

Edwards did not specifically mention which 鈥榗ommunications鈥� he was concerned about, however, Peace Arch News learned it relates to the 鈥淐ommunity Consultation Results鈥� published by 性视界传媒 Police Service on Nov. 19.

The Community Consultation project included a survey of more than 1,200 性视界传媒 residents. According to the SPS, the survey included an 鈥渙pen-ended鈥� portion, which some respondents used to share their opinion on the 性视界传媒 police transition.

Of the people that filled out the open-ended section, six per cent indicated their support for keeping the RCMP as the policing service for the city.

Shortly after SPS released the results, the 性视界传媒 Safe Coalition promoted on Twitter that only six per cent of residents support keeping the RCMP.

鈥淎 new survey shows only 6% of #性视界传媒BC residents support keeping the @性视界传媒RCMP & their cardboard cutouts,鈥� Safe 性视界传媒 Coalition tweeted. 鈥淚n spite of the efforts of a bitter minority, it鈥檚 clear that the city鈥檚 anxious for a local, accountable & responsive police service.

鈥淚t鈥檚 time to move forward.鈥�

A new survey shows only 6% of residents support keeping the & their cardboard cutouts

In spite of the efforts of a bitter minority, it's clear that the city's anxious for a local, accountable & responsive police force

It's time to move forward

鈥� Safe 性视界传媒 Coalition (@safesurrey2018)

性视界传媒 Mayor Doug McCallum and majority of council are members of the Safe 性视界传媒 Coalition. McCallum is also the chairman of the 性视界传媒 Police Board.

Edwards said he has addressed his concern to McCallum and the commanding officer of the BC RCMP.

鈥淚t is essential, particularly as our Province faces yet another state of emergency that we continue to maintain a stable safety environment in 性视界传媒, and the Lower Mainland Region. As such, we will be taking our concerns to the Provincial Government,鈥� Edwards said.

鈥淚 will not tolerate efforts to undermine confidence in policing in this city and disrespect to our members while I am in charge.鈥�

性视界传媒 RCMP Sgt. Elenore Sturko, who said Mounties were informed internally of Edwards鈥� concerns, noted that he also took issue with Safe 性视界传媒 Coalition apparently 鈥渕ocking鈥� in a tweet the use of cardboard cut-outs to reduce speeding.

Launched in 2019, the 性视界传媒 RCMP partnered with the City of 性视界传媒鈥檚 Vision Zero project and ICBC to reduce speeding on city roads. The program involves life-sized cut-out cops and police cruisers posted at the side of roads to get motorists to slow down.

鈥淭he other part that (Edwards) was very upset about was that it mocks the initiative that鈥檚 actually a Vision Zero 性视界传媒 initiative that we participate in. It鈥檚 a City of 性视界传媒 initiative. He sees that as very disrespectful to the members and it鈥檚 contemptuous, really,鈥� Sturko said.

SEE ALSO: 性视界传媒 Police Service survey says violent crime, gangs and timely response top priorities

Edwards said his Mounties and employees have his 鈥渇ull support.鈥�

鈥淲hile we continue towards the policing transition, I can assure the public, the 性视界传媒 RCMP will maintain its leadership role, of providing stability and safety in 性视界传媒.鈥�

Sunday, Peace Arch News reached out to the mayor and City of 性视界传媒 to request an interview with the mayor of 性视界传媒. The city communication鈥檚 department requested the reporter contact Safe 性视界传媒 Coalition.

The Safe 性视界传媒 Coalition released a statement Sunday afternoon.

The SSC statement noted that 鈥渉undreds of thousands of dollars鈥� have been spent to 鈥渦ndermine the democratic mandate of the Safe 性视界传媒 Coalition and the legitimacy of the 性视界传媒 Police Service.鈥�

The release specifically mentions the National Policing Federation, the Keep the RCMP in 性视界传媒 group, and the 性视界传媒 Police Vote petition campaign.

鈥淔or this duration over three years of attacks and propaganda, 性视界传媒 R.C.M.P Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards has remained silent,鈥� the SSC release notes.

鈥淪urely the indignation that he has voiced today equally applies to these groups鈥� organized efforts to destabilize & demoralize our city鈥檚 incoming police force.鈥�

In the statement, SSC indicated that it stands behind its 鈥渃lear and consistent鈥� message on Twitter.

鈥淚t鈥檚 time to move forward,鈥� the release notes.

SPS media liaison Ian MacDonald highlighted that in the survey, SPS did not ask respondents if they prefer SPS or rather keep the RCMP. He said the six per cent alluded to the fact that people voiced an opinion about their desire to keep the RCMP.

Asked if Safe 性视界传媒 Coalition misrepresented the survey results and took it out of context, MacDonald said the coalition 鈥渟electively looked at a single piece of data.鈥�

MacDonald said it鈥檚 a 鈥渉yper politicized鈥� environment, and 鈥渋t鈥檚 not to the betterment of any police agency that鈥檚 trying to safeguard public safety.鈥�

鈥淚 think regardless of where you鈥檙e coming at this issue politically, if at the end of the day your objective is to try to tear other people down instead of build the community up, then you鈥檙e not helping,鈥� MacDonald said.

The SPS is to deploy officers to work alongside 性视界传媒 RCMP by the end of the month.

Edwards noted that a formal working agreement has not yet been signed.

鈥淭he 性视界传媒 RCMP will remain the police of jurisdiction during the initial phases of the transition, and will remain as such until, SPS is able to take command of police operations without compromising public safety. There is still considerable work to be done before this will take place. As has always been the case, the safety of our community is our number one priority,鈥� Edwards said.