The Surrey RCMP says the Surrey Police Union has shared 㽶Ƶֱprotected police information㽶Ƶֱ on social media and that the Surrey Police Service has been alerted to investigate.
㽶ƵֱSurrey 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,㽶Ƶֱ Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards, in charge of the Surrey RCMP, told the Now-Leader on Thursday.
㽶ƵֱIn addition, Surrey RCMP is simultaneously investigating the origin of the photograph and will conduct a security review of the incident.㽶Ƶֱ
Paul Daynes, of Keep the RCMP in Surrey, characterized the information as 㽶Ƶֱcompromising, it could potentially compromise the anonymity of the individuals concerned. That㽶Ƶֱs my understanding.
㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs a security code, it㽶Ƶֱs supposed to be internal, it㽶Ƶֱs not supposed to be put out there in the public,㽶Ƶֱ he said. 㽶ƵֱI understand it㽶Ƶֱs a big deal, that㽶Ƶֱs all I understand.㽶Ƶֱ
A tweet was re-sent, the second version with two items blurred out that could be read clearly in the first.
Complete incompetence & unprofessionalism by the SPU. Not helping their own membership with potential security breaches and Police Act consequences. Time to put an end to the boondoggle.
㽶Ƶֱ KEEP THE RCMP IN SURREY, BC (@keep_bc)
Surrey Police Service spokesman Ian MacDonald confirmed the RCMP㽶Ƶֱs request and is investigating.
㽶ƵֱWe㽶Ƶֱve informed the Office of the Police Complaints Commission,㽶Ƶֱ he said. 㽶ƵֱWe are obviously going to investigate the incident but we㽶Ƶֱre also interested in the totality of the post, which would include staffing, which would include public safety and which would include officer safety. We㽶Ƶֱre interested in everything, not just the post itself.㽶Ƶֱ
But the SPU㽶Ƶֱs president, Staff Sgt. Rick Stewart, said the image showing 㽶Ƶֱalarming staffing levels㽶Ƶֱ in the dispatch centre 㽶Ƶֱis in no way confidential or protected.
㽶ƵֱIn fact, all union members have a fundamental right to report public safety concerns to their superiors and/or union leadership,㽶Ƶֱ he said. 㽶ƵֱFurther, 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.㽶Ƶֱ
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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