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Surrey Mounties say Surrey Police Union shared 91Ƶprotected police information91Ƶ on social media

The Surrey RCMP says it has alerted Surrey Police Service to investigate
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Surrey Mountie and Surrey Police Service officers on patrol together. (File photo)

The Surrey RCMP says the Surrey Police Union has shared 91Ƶprotected police information91Ƶ on social media and that the Surrey Police Service has been alerted to investigate.

91ƵSurrey RCMP is aware of a photograph of protected police information shared by the Surrey Police Union on social media. The matter has been brought to the attention of Surrey Police Service to initiate and conduct an investigation,91Ƶ Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards, in charge of the Surrey RCMP, told the Now-Leader on Thursday.

91ƵIn addition, Surrey RCMP is simultaneously investigating the origin of the photograph and will conduct a security review of the incident.91Ƶ

Paul Daynes, of Keep the RCMP in Surrey, characterized the information as 91Ƶcompromising, it could potentially compromise the anonymity of the individuals concerned. That91Ƶs my understanding.

91ƵIt91Ƶs a security code, it91Ƶs supposed to be internal, it91Ƶs not supposed to be put out there in the public,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵI understand it91Ƶs a big deal, that91Ƶs all I understand.91Ƶ

A tweet was re-sent, the second version with two items blurred out that could be read clearly in the first.

Surrey Police Service spokesman Ian MacDonald confirmed the RCMP91Ƶs request and is investigating.

91ƵWe91Ƶve informed the Office of the Police Complaints Commission,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵWe are obviously going to investigate the incident but we91Ƶre also interested in the totality of the post, which would include staffing, which would include public safety and which would include officer safety. We91Ƶre interested in everything, not just the post itself.91Ƶ

But the SPU91Ƶs president, Staff Sgt. Rick Stewart, said the image showing 91Ƶalarming staffing levels91Ƶ in the dispatch centre 91Ƶis in no way confidential or protected.

91ƵIn fact, all union members have a fundamental right to report public safety concerns to their superiors and/or union leadership,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵFurther, this information has not been previously shared with the public, and at this critical juncture in history, the SPU strongly believes that transparency, openness and accountability must be the procedural principles that guide us. As such, we released the image in support of full disclosure and an honest debate surrounding the future of policing in Surrey.91Ƶ



tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com

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About the Author: Tom Zytaruk

I write unvarnished opinion columns and unbiased news reports for the Surrey Now-Leader.
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