Township of Langley announces split over policing with City of Langley

The Township of Langley has announced plans to sever its relationship with the City of Langley over policing costs and set up its own RCMP detachment.

The decision, announced Wednesday, comes following a long-simmering debate over how policing costs and resources are shared between the township — a sprawling, rural municipality — and the lesser populated city, which covers a smaller, urban area.

Mostly the debate was over which municipality assumes the greater cost of policing and the service it receives.

A release issued Wednesday morning said the township needs a standalone detachment to "better serve the needs of this large and fast-growing municipality."

"We need to make a change," said Township of Langley Mayor Eric Woodward in the release.

Talking to CBC News, Woodward said council had voted for the split in a closed session weeks prior to Wednesday's announcement. It now has two years to buy out the City of Langley's part ownership of the current RCMP detachment, which is located in the township.

The nine-member council, including Woodward, had passed a motion in December asking staff to explore the financial implications of setting up its own detachment.

Woodward said the buyout would cost around $10 million. A full split where both municipalities have their own RCMP detachments up and running could take years, with both provincial and federal governments required to be involved in the transition.

In 2019, Pitt Meadows said it was the first municipality in B.C. to undertake a so-called de-integration by splitting shared policing with Maple Ridge. In 2021, it was granted approval by the province. In December, Pitt Meadows announced the hiring of an interim commander.

Between the two Langleys, the bulk of police funding comes from the township, which, according to the latest census, has a population of 132,603, compared to 28,963 in the city.

Recent financial reports show the city contributes approximately $13 million to the RCMP budget, while the township funds roughly $30 million.

In its statement, the township said it has funded 33 new police officers to the force, with a planned addition of 10 new officers over the next four years, while the City of Langley has authorized one.

'Not fair'

The release said the township wants its own RCMP detachment so officers can respond solely to the needs of the township.

Woodward said property crime is a prominent concern among residents.

"We've heard loud and clear from residents that they want to see improved policing in the Township of Langley," said Woodward in the release.

"We are investing in public safety, and the City of Langley is not. It is not fair to Township of Langley residents and taxpayers to have to subsidize policing in another municipality."

Other reasons the township listed for the change is a forecast population growth and the complexities of having appropriate policing for the township's six urban centres, which are spread out over the municipality's 316 square kilometres.

The City of Langley is about 10 square kilometres in size and faces policing issues related to businesses, homelessness and drug use.

'Long, complicated, drawn out'

Langley City Mayor Nathan Pachal said on Wednesday he wasn't surprised by the township's decision.

Woodward told him in November that it was a priority for the township. Pachal has said the city has the financial resources and ability to pay for its policing needs independently.

He reiterated on Wednesday that the township's announcement is just the start of a process, which, if the policing issue between two forces in Surrey is any indication, could have many twists and turns.

"We're fully willing to co-operate in this process, obviously," said Pachal. "It's long, complicated and drawn out."

Nothing about policing between the two municipalities would change immediately, said Pachal.

He said he would have preferred renegotiating the shared policing contract the two municipalities have now rather than going separate ways because it would have been simpler and shorter to solve issues the township has rather than undertaking de-integration.

In a statement, Langley RCMP said municipalities were responsible for shared police delivery models.

"Ultimately, the RCMP's priority is public safety. The RCMP remains committed to working with both the Township of Langley and the City of Langley in ensuring their public safety needs are continued to be met throughout this process," said Supt. Adrian Marsden, who is in charge of the Langley RCMP.