The City and Township of Langley have officially dissolved their 32-year policing partnership as of May 10, 2025, ending a shared arrangement that has served both communities since 1993.
The termination follows a required two-year notice period initiated by the Township in 2023.
A Divided Approach to Public Safety
While both communities will continue to receive RCMP services, the split represents a significant shift in how policing resources are allocated across the Langleys. The Township has assumed full ownership of the current RCMP detachment building and equipment, though City officers will temporarily continue operating from the facility.
Township Mayor Eric Woodward expressed confidence in the change: "There is no doubt that Township residents and taxpayers will be well-served, and better served, with an autonomous RCMP detachment." The Township has committed to funding additional RCMP officers to address rapid population growth and has offered the City transitional service agreements at market rates.
City Calls for Unity as Costs Mount
The City of Langley has taken a different stance, with Mayor Nathan Pachal and council unanimously opposing the split. "De-integration of the Langley RCMP Detachment will not improve the quality, efficiency, or effectiveness of policing in Langley," Pachal stated, emphasizing the City's preference for a mediated solution.
The timing raises questions about fiscal responsibility and coordination as both communities prepare for SkyTrain expansion and continued development. Critics argue that maintaining two separate detachments will increase administrative costs and potentially reduce cross-jurisdictional efficiency — expenses that will ultimately fall on taxpayers.
Provincial Approval Pending
Notably, while the agreement regarding the shared building and staff has been terminated, the actual de-integration of policing services still requires provincial government approval — which has not yet been granted. This administrative limbo could complicate planning and budgeting for both municipalities.
RCMP Officer-in-Charge Superintendent Harm Dosange sought to reassure residents: "The RCMP will continue to provide all policing services required to keep residents safe across Langley, and there will be no interruption to service delivery."
Moving Forward Separately
As the communities navigate this transition, residents in both the City and Township can continue accessing police services through 911, the non-emergency line, or community policing offices. However, questions remain about long-term costs, coordination during major incidents, and whether this split serves the interests of working families who travel between both jurisdictions daily.
The decision reflects broader tensions about growth, resource allocation, and municipal autonomy in Metro Vancouver's rapidly expanding communities. As both Langleys chart separate paths for public safety, residents will be watching closely to see whether promises of improved service materialize — or if duplicate administrative structures simply mean higher costs for the same protection.
References and Further Reading
Township of Langley Council meeting, queued up to the section where Mayor Woodward provides a comment on this subject