Emotions were high from community members during a public safety town hall hosted by White Rock RCMP in light of two recent stabbings along the promenade.
On Sunday, April 21, 28-year-old Jatinder Singh was stabbed while sitting on a bench at the waterfront around 9 p.m. He was injured, but survived. Two nights later, on Tuesday, April 23, Kulwinder Singh Sohi was stabbed multiple times also while sitting on a bench — some 500 metres away from where the first victim was attacked.
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A foot chase between Sohi and the suspect ensued, leading to the 26-year-old man collapsing near the train tracks, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The violent incidents left many members of the public feeling unsafe, scared and wanting answers. A couple hundred people turned out Tuesday night (April 30) for the White Rock RCMP’s town hall, held to answer questions from the public and provide insight into their policing strategy going forward.
Many questions from the public were aimed at understanding why no public alert went out to community about the first Sunday stabbing, to urge people to avoid the promenade.
“If Kulwinder or someone knew, through an alert or social media, that in that area, somebody is out there, his life could have been (saved). Now we have lost Kulwinder, he is no longer with us,” one audience member stressed to White Rock RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob Dixon.
Neither stabbing incident met the criteria for a public alert to be administered, Dixon said, as they are reserved for active threats, such as an active shooter.
“There was nothing at the time to make us believe it was an active threat. … We considered it, it’s always something top of my mind. Always,” he said, adding that making the media aware of the incident through a press release was an important step police followed.
“We do our best to make the public aware, but we can’t control what people are looking at.”
Dixon shared that the number of police patrols along the promenade and Marine Drive increased immediately after the Sunday incident, but not the number of officers on duty. The detachment also had extra officers from Surrey RCMP to assist in the increased patrols.
Typically, the detachment commander added, increased police patrols begin during the May long weekend. However, enhanced police presence is beginning immediately this year.
Whether on foot, bicycles or police vehicles, Dixon said residents and visitors will likely see more traffic enforcement this year in comparison to previous ones.
Several audience members who were South Asian expressed how the two incidents, which saw South Asian men as victims, have been affecting their community. The potential of racial targeting in the stabbings was raised multiple times.
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“When incidents like this happen, we expect our leaders to show a little bit more empathy and sensitivity. Sometimes when leaders say ‘I’m down at the beach, my kids are down at the beach, RCMP’s down at the beach’… the two targets were South Asian men, and maybe that’s why there’s fear,” a man said.
Another individual said many international students and families are dealing with the potential of there being hate crimes occurring in the community.
Dixon said police are there to help.
“I don’t want to see that stuff in our community, and I want you to report it to us and we will investigate it. People should feel comfortable in our community, regardless of their background,” Dixon said.
A 13-year-old boy took the microphone to ask police, “When will it be safe or how can I help raise awareness about crimes related to this, to my peers and myself and how can I take steps to protect myself and the people around me?”
Dixon replied that everyone should report something if they see something.
“My suggestion is always going to be the same: live your life, but take precautions. You should always be aware of your surroundings.”