'We will have to build the roadmap': Surrey appoints manager to lead transition from RCMP to city police force

The City of Surrey has appointed a new manager to lead its transition from using the RCMPto a city-run police force one of the first details Mayor Doug McCallumhas offered into how the change will look.

Terry Waterhousewas announced as the city's newgeneral manager of policing transition late Tuesday.

Waterhouse joined the city in 2015 as its first ever director of public safety strategies a title that was later changed to general manager of public safety.

On Wednesday, he said he'll have to forge his own path in his new role as it's not often a Canadian city opts out of RCMP services.

"I think we will have to build the roadmap. It is an ambitious endeavour that has not been done much in Canada," Waterhouse said in a phone interview.

"I've worked with the RCMP in the past and we will continue to work together on this transition," he added.

Waterhouse worked with Mounties in his previous role, which included the oversight of the city'sRCMPsupport services.

He has also worked as chief safety officer at Simon Fraser University, as well as inthe school of criminology and criminal justice at the University of the Fraser Valley, according to hisLinkedInprofile.

Mayor ran on city-run police force promise

Elected less than a month ago, Surrey Mayor Doug McCallumran on a platform of replacing the RCMP in favour of an independent, municipal police force.

City council unanimously approvedMcCallum'smotion to start forging thatpolice department at theinaugural meeting of the city's newcouncil meeting on Nov. 5.

Before Tuesday, McCallum hadn't provided many specificsabout who would manage the switch or how the community and its values would influence the operation.

"With his extensive experience in the criminal justice system and his most recent tenure ... Terry is well suited to lead the transition planning to a municipal police department for Surrey," the mayor wrote in a statement Tuesday.

McCallumhassaid that an independent police force could be up and running by the beginning of 2021. There's no guarantee that will happen, asRCMPneed at least two years offormal notice from a city to leave, and McCallum's motion only askedstaff to start that process.

Surrey RCMP has said it will not participate in the transition operation.

It's currently thelargest RCMPdetachment in Canada, with more than 1,000 officers and support staff.

With files from Yvette Brend