At the Regular meeting of Council earlier this week, I made a statement in relation to the recent allegations involving local RCMP officers.
COQUITLAM, B.C., September 27, 2024 – At the Regular meeting of Council earlier this week, I made a statement in relation to the recent allegations involving local RCMP officers. I want to reaffirm that message in writing so that our community is aware that our Council does not condone behaviour that does not reflect the values we expect from law enforcement.
The recent allegations involving local RCMP officers are deeply troubling. The type of behaviour that has been alleged does not reflect the values we expect from law enforcement in our community or from those entrusted to serve and protect us.
While these allegations are serious, I want to acknowledge that they are not representative of the actions and behaviour of the vast majority of the RCMP members and civilian staff who serve our community with integrity. We deeply appreciate the many individuals at our local detachment who continue to demonstrate hard work, professionalism and a commitment to both public safety and integrity.
Although the RCMP is a contracted service for the City of Coquitlam and RCMP personnel matters fall under their jurisdiction, we take these concerns seriously. The trust between our police officers and the community is essential, and any actions or allegations that undermine that trust must be addressed.
On behalf of Coquitlam City Council, I want to emphasize our full confidence in the Coquitlam RCMP Detachment to uphold the RCMP Code of Conduct, which reflects the high standards of accountability and respect that we expect from law enforcement.
As Mayor, my priority remains the safety and well-being of all Coquitlam residents. We are committed to ensuring that the police services provided to our city maintain the highest standards of accountability and respect for every member of our community.
Media contact:
Kathleen Vincent
Senior Manager, Communications and Civic Engagement
City of Coquitlam
media@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.