Re: “Regional police would have caught Pickton faster: Oppal,” Dec. 18.

The results of the Oppal inquiry are hardly surprising, as we have seen similar reports regarding serial killers, organized crime and a stark local example in the Lee family murder-suicide. Yet citizens still hear civic leaders (this time in the Lower Mainland) saying their specific municipality’s policing is “good.”

Criminals abuse municipal divisions to hide their activity from law enforcement. The myopic view of municipal leaders or police officials who say policing is good in “their” municipality doesn’t meet the residents’ needs.

Let’s look at policing from a customer-centric model. As a resident, I want to be protected wherever I go in the region. Few residents spend an entire day in one municipality. When I walk my dog, I enter Oak Bay, I visit downtown shops, buy chicken wings at Costco in the West Shore, look for bargains at Walmart in Saanich, buy kitchen cabinets on Keating Cross Road in Central Saanich and fly on airplanes or ride the ferries, leaving the Island altogether.

This pattern of activity is similar to that of most other people in the region. Residents spend their days oblivious to what municipality they are in or passing through. We need unified control and co-ordination of policing activities throughout our region.

We, as residents, should heed the warning of the Oppal inquiry: We need unified policing to best meet our needs.

Bruce Carter

CEO, Victoria Chamber of Commerce

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