Calgary police union backs Sonya Sharp for mayor
The Calgary Police Association endorsed mayoral candidate and city councillor Sonya Sharp on Thursday, as well as several other municipal candidates under the Communities First Council banner.
The Calgary Police Association endorsed mayoral candidate and city councillor Sonya Sharp on Thursday, as well as several other municipal candidates under the Communities First Council banner.
CPSA President John Orr called the move a first for the association, which has “never endorsed a group of candidates like this.”
“The Calgary Police Association has, on very rare occasions in the past, endorsed political candidates, but we have never endorsed a group of candidates like this,” said Orr during a press conference on Thursday.
“I wanted to take a moment to explain why. Why now, and why these candidates? Even under the best of circumstances, the work of our members is dangerous and stressful. Every day, they may face life-threatening situations while performing their duties. They may have to deal with some of the most predatory human beings in our society. They may have to assist people on the worst days of their lives,” he said.
However, Orr went on to say that the job has become “increasingly difficult” due to neglect and the CPS not having enough boots on the ground.
The union president, who represents more than 2,300 CPS members, added that Calgary was once among the best places in Canada to be a police officer because of the competitive pay and lifestyle.
“This is not the case anymore,” said Orr. “We have trouble filling our recruitment classes and other jurisdictions are luring our members away.”
According to Orr, the issue of a struggling police force is one of the most pressing issues presently being faced by Calgary, and one that poses a “clear and dangerous threat to public safety.”
“That is why today the board of the Calgary Police Association has taken the unprecedented step of endorsing these 10 candidates for office,” he said. “They get it.”
Orr believes that the shared platform priorities of Sharp and the other nine candidates heed the calls of frontline officers regarding funding and assistance.
“I am honoured and humbled to receive this endorsement from you and your members – Calgary’s 2,300 police officers,” said Sharp following Orr’s announcement.
“The Community First team and I are very supportive and proud of the men and women who keep us safe. The number one job of all governments is to protect its citizens, and Calgary has fallen too far behind. This is a top priority for me and my Communities First team.”
Sharp said she is committed to finding budget savings to reallocate support for CPS and will begin reinvesting in the police service if elected.
Additionally, Sharp pledged to add 500 more police officers to the force over the next four years.
Calgarians will head to the polls on October 20.
I confess that I don't know Sonya Sharp well so I have no right to comment on her electability. That is a job for the citizens of Calgary. What I do know is promises come easy when your only focus is winning an election. I believe what is needed is a valid method of holding the politicians to their election promises. Not just in their first year in office but in every year they are governing. Presently I don't know the solution but I know we need one. May the promise keeper win in this campaign.
She lost my vote the second she decided she wanted to shut down the Drop in Centre and put one in all the suburbs. F*** her. If i wanted meth heads in my yard, I'd live downtown thank you very much.