COLLINS: Giving more power to Community Service Officers is a recipe for disaster

May 21, 2023 | 6:00 AM

A MOVE TO GIVE Community Service Officers more power will lead to injury and possible death. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

We want more community safety. The Mayor ran on that platform and most councillors agree that community safety is a top priority. But this creation of a group of “second-tier policemen” is fraught with danger.

As I understand it, these officers will work in tandem with the police. Armed with batons and pepper spray, they will have certain expanded arrest powers. They will have expanded law enforcement training, so they will know what to do, they just won’t have the resources to do.

So I’m a CSO and I’m going to try and arrest someone drunk or having mental health issues, and this person, not in control of their senses, pulls a knife or gun. Quite possible in today’s society. And I’m standing there with my little stick trying to defend myself.

Or I come across two people fighting, do I intervene? Or stand by idly and watch someone get killed? What’s the next step? Arming these CSO’s? And who controls them? Do they answer to the police, or some bureaucrat at City Hall?

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This is not the answer to increased public safety. People don’t trust the police these days and that puts the police in increased danger. If they now have to keep watch on a group of wannabe policemen, they are facing increased responsibilities that take their minds off the real task at hand.

I want to feel more protected than I am now, but turning CSO’s into cops is not the answer. More RCMP officers? A far better investment of time and money than putting City employees at increased risk.

I’m Doug Collins and that’s One Man’s Opinion.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by Doug Collins

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COLLINS: Giving more power to Community Service Officers is a recipe for disaster

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