Abbotsford’s police chief is urging residents who’ve been targeted with extortion to come forward.

He also says that recent criticism of police responses to extortion show an “incomplete understanding” of what’s happening.

At a press conference Tuesday, Chief Cst. Colin Watson said he’s heard from community members who know people that have not reported the incidents to police.

“Abbotsford Police Department wants to hear from you,” he said.

Watson said he understands that receiving an extortion threat can be “overwhelming,” and said the department is working to build trust with community members so that more people feel comfortable reporting to police.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that some things aren’t being reported,” he said.

He added that reporting incidents to police can provide critical evidence in ongoing investigations.

“Reporting helps you, but it also helps the entire community.”

Premier criticizes police response

Extortion, in which suspects threaten residents or businesses with violence in exchange for money, has been a growing public safety issue over the past two years.

Last week Premier David Eby said he was concerned with how the issue is being handled by police in the neighbouring city of Surrey.

Inconsistencies between what the province’s extortion task force has communicated to community members and what the Surrey Police Service has communicated has left residents confused over whether police are properly responding and able to protect them, he said.

In response, Eby announced that the province would form an advisory committee to work with police to identify gaps and improve communication between all parties, investigators, patrollers and residents.

At the Abbotsford Police Department’s Tuesday news conference, Watson said any criticism of police responses to extortion aren’t justified, although he did not specify what criticism he was responding to.

“Any criticism directed at police…is entirely undeserved,” he said.

Watson said his team is doing “very good work” and explained there are certain aspects to their response that cannot be made public without compromising investigations.

The department is “committed to transparency,” he said.

“We must also work within our mandate and focus on risk-based responses.”

Since late 2023, the Abbotsford Police Department says it has received 89 reports of extortion, arrested two people and identified two other suspects. It has also handed four files over to the provincial task force.

Watson added that officers have had to “park” some investigations in order to prioritize extortion investigations.

“We can and are currently working well beyond capacity, we don’t have people sitting around waiting for things to do.”

“We’ve had to make changes. We’ve had to park investigations, park some of the things that we’d ordinary [sic] like to do, to prioritize our work around extortions.”

However, Watson said he’s not currently seeking more funding for the department, adding that he’s sensitive to the fact that any additional funding for police ultimately comes from residents.