The New Westminster Police Officers Association is being criticized by residents and local politicians over a tweet Thursday night that was critical of city council’s recent vote on its budget.
At a budget workshop on Monday afternoon, council voted four to three in support of Coun. Nadine Nakagawa’s motion to send the police budget back to the police board and ask it to submit a budget with a 0% increase for 2021. The New Westminster Police Department had a $31.6-million budget in 2020, with a $33.33-million budget proposed in 2021, an increase of $1.73 million.
“I cannot support any increase to the police budget, recognizing even if it is the cost of increased wages, etc.,” said Nakagawa, who wanted all police staffing and initiatives funded out of its existing budget, at the meeting Monday.
In response, the union tweeted this: “Our @NewWestPD members have saved 35 lives with naloxone in the past 3 years yet, with opioid deaths at a record high and no end in sight, several New West city councillors voted against providing naloxone funding for police. Let that sink in.”
The tweet resulted in numerous responses from residents and local politicians rightly pointing out that council did not vote against naloxone funding.
“New Westminster city council doesn't say where the money goes - police board does,” tweeted @sadisthailey. “The unelected, unaccountable police board.”
“This is simply not true, but I’ll not be drawn into a debate on Twitter over this,” tweeted Coun. Patrick Johnstone. “Instead, I look forward to further respectful and transparent discussions between Council, the Police Board, and the Province about how we can better work together to respond to the Opioid Crisis.”
“I’m sure you can cut other things than naloxone funding,” tweeted Jennifer Bradshaw. “You’re taking people’s lives hostage in a naked attempt to extort more money from the public. Have you no shame?”
“This is an extremely disingenuous post,” tweeted Coun. Mary Trentadue, “and I’m so disappointed that your organization would choose to undermine the important work of the Police Board and Council in our ongoing discussions.”
https://twitter.com/ianwrob/status/1337271231452573696
“This is a prime example of the bully tactics seen by police forces all over North America,” tweeted Matt Lorenzi. “As organizations there's absolutely something rotten within.”
Vancouver lawyer Paul Doroshenko also tweeted about police unions wading into political issues.
“And this type of statement undermines confidence in the police. It’s misleading first of all. Secondly it’s wading into political considerations when that is not an issue for the police. It’s particularly concerning bearing in mind the role and power of the police.”
