Work is officially underway on the new autonomous RCMP detachment in Pitt Meadows, with city officials and local dignitaries breaking ground at the work site on Nov. 29.
The ceremony included speeches from several people, including Mayor Nicole MacDonald, who said she was very pleased to witness the start of the new autonomous detachment.
“It is important that Pitt Meadows has an RCMP detachment that is tailored to our community’s unique needs,” said Mayor MacDonald. “We are proud to invest in the infrastructure necessary to enhance policing service levels and response times.”
With an estimated completion date of late 2025, many people are eager to see the new 19,000-square-foot detachment up and running, including Chief Supt. Jeanette Theisen who is the officer in charge of the operations strategy branch within the BC RCMP.
“Pitt Meadows is a unique community in the Lower Mainland district,” said Thiesen. “Its policing needs are as unique as the landscape around it.”
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City CAO Mark Roberts called the ground breaking a significant moment for all of Pit Meadows.
“The new detachment will enable a more effective police response to accommodate the evolving needs of our growing community,” said Roberts.
Chief Supt. Thiesen explained that this establishment of an autonomous detachment is not just a major milestone for Pitt Meadows, but for the entire province as a whole.
“The de-integration of Pitt Meadows from Maple Ridge is a first for the RCMP,” said Chief Supt. Theisen.
Mayor MacDonald also took this opportunity to emphasize the importance of getting the Harris Road underpass built, especially considering that the new RCMP detachment is going to be located on the north side of the railroad tracks.
“We cannot minimize how important the underpass is to the community and public safety is one of the main reasons for that,” said MacDonald. “It’s about accessibility for our first responders to meet the needs of the community. I know very much that our communications with the province will continue to stress the importance of that as well as to the federal government.”
When the detachment is completed, Staff Sgt. Michelle Luca will be the officer in charge. She will lead the team of dedicated Pitt Meadows officers, who will be working out of the new facility that will include a dedicated ground-level volunteer/flex space and several mass timber structural components.
The total budget for the project, which includes the building of a new washroom facility at Harris Road Park, is $23.5 million, and has come without the burden of a tax increase.
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