NDP Attacks on Local Police Show Disrespect, Lack of Leadership on Crime

May 2, 2009

Vancouver – Recent comments made by NDP Abbotsford South candidate Bonnie Rai attacking the integrity of Abbotsford police demonstrates not only disrespect for community law enforcement but a complete lack of leadership from the NDP on crime that Carole James must account for, says Solicitor General and Fort Langley-Aldergrove BC Liberal candidate Rich Coleman.

As reported in yesterday’s Vancouver Sun, Bonnie Rai responded to comments she has three traffic violations, including speeding, by stating: “I tell you the cop lied. The cops have a responsibility to follow moral leadership and let me tell you, the cops do not have that here [in Abbotsford]."

“Members of the Abbotsford Police Department have worked tirelessly to protect the residents of their community. To have their work shown such disrespect by this NDP candidate for purely self-serving reasons is unacceptable, and reflects a much larger lack of leadership in that party on this subject,” says Coleman.  “Carole James needs to immediately, and publicly, apologize to the Abbotsford Police Department and police officers across British Columbia for her candidate’s comments.”

The Abbotsford Police Department has been at the forefront of dealing with gang violence in British Columbia, including the recent arrest of Jamie Bacon. In the last month, the department has also been protecting British Columbians through shooting investigations and participating in the break up a drug smuggling ring among many other public safety actions.

“Every day police officers leave their homes and families and put their lives on the line for British Columbians. We should be thanking them for the work they do, not criticizing them because it is politically expedient,” says Coleman. “Meanwhile, this is far too typical of the NDP’s respect for our officers -- whether its voting against the 1,100 new officers we hired to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our police forces, voting against new technology to help them fight crime or voting against new integrated teams to fight gang crime.”