One month since Julie Paskall’s death and security still lacking in Newton area; community advocates

It’s been one month since Surrey hockey mom Julie Paskall was brutally beaten outside the Newton arena. She died of her injuries and residents are saying that while safety improvements have been made in the area, security is still lacking.

Since Paskall’s murder, Newton resident  Jacquie Nordhoff, spends a few minutes by the memorial set up outside the arena for the 53-year-old. It’s a regular routine for Nordhoff.

“I just hope they find that person,” she said. “But it doesn’t look like they’re making any headway and that person is still walking around free.”

Nordhoff used to take evening yoga classes at the Newton Community Centre but after Paskall’s death, she gave them up out of fear. Regardless of the increased security and police presence, Nordhoff said she doesn’t feel any safer.

“There were a couple of guys… and I think they were on drugs. They were flailing their arms and yelling. I think they wanted to talk to me, so I ran as fast as I could into the rec centre.”

Since the attack, the city has removed some of the nearby bushes and put brighter lights outside the recreation centre. Other improvements include windows installed in the centre’s doors to give people and staff a direct line of sight to the parking lot, and in case of trouble, there’s an emergency phone inside.

“It’s a direct line to RCMP and security, and the front desk over at the other facility as well,” Owen Croy, Surrey manager of parks, told Global News.

“So  people can quickly call if they have observed something that is unusual in nature.”

But some community advocates don’t believe the improvements provide a real solution to the problems in Newton.

“To me those are band-aid solutions,” Liz Walker, Newton Community Association, said. “They make me feel safer, they’ve cleared the sight lines but it hasn’t really addressed the core issues of why we have so many problems here in Newton.”

What they would like to see is a bigger commitment from all levels of government in order to address the issues of addiction, homelessness and mental health in the area. Currently, four RCMP officers patrol the Newton Town Centre from noon onwards, but community advocates say that’s not enough.

“We need more police, more boots on the ground,” Walker said. “We need them to be here to be preemptive so they can stop criminal activity happening before it happens, before somebody else becomes a victim.”

Police say they are following up on more than 70 tips in Paskall’s death, and are still asking anyone with information to come forward.

Tonight community members are meeting with the new RCMP sergeant for Newton to not only voice their concerns but also hear the sergeant’s vision for the neighbourhood.

Global News contacted the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) for an update on the investigation but police couldn’t say much on the case.

Paskall’s family contacted Global News and said they have full confidence in the RCMP and are asking for the community to ban together to help keep the neighbourhood safe.

~ with files from Tanya Beja