If you want to have a say on policing issues in New Westminster, this may be your chance.
The province is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the New Westminster Police Board.
The board is currently comprised of Mayor Jonathan Cote (chair), Heather Boersma; Ruby Campbell; Drew Hart; Shirley Heafey; and Patrick Lalonde.
Hart, who attended his first meeting in May, and Lalonde, who was introduced at the July meeting, are the newest members of the police board.
Ruby Campbell, who sworn in as a member of the police board in December 2021, announced at the June meeting that she would be taking a leave of absence from the police board because she’s running for city council in the 2022 municipal election.
At the June police board meeting, Chief Const. Dave Jansen acknowledged the years of service that Sasha Ramnarine and Karim Hachlaf had contributed to the board. They have both concluded their terms on the board.
The police board is comprised of the mayor, who is designated as the board’s chair, one person appointed by city council (Heafey) and up to five persons appointed by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council.
According to the New Westminster police board website, the board is responsible for providing oversight and direction to the police department in a manner that’s consistent with the Police Act.
“The board works with the chief constable and the senior management team to develop and approve a strategic plan, an annual plan/budget and objectives, and policies,” said the website. “The chief constable and the senior management team are responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of the New Westminster Police Department within the parameters of the strategic plan, the annual plan/budget, objectives and policies approved by the board.”
In a statement to the Record, the New Westminster Police Department said it’s unknown how long it will take to fill the vacancy as the process is run by the province.
It won’t be long before another new member is added to the police board. With Cote having announced he won’t be seeking re-election in the Oct. 15 civic election, the police board will have a new chair following the upcoming civic election.
