Communities across the province rely on the RCMP for local policing, but some Mounties are warning of a mass exodus of experienced officers because the federal government is not giving them the 3.5 per cent pay increase they were promised last summer.

Any pay increase has been capped at 1.5 per cent, instead of the rate promised last June.

Currently, a first year RCMP constable makes $46,000 a year.

This compares with a rookie constable with the Vancouver Police who get $52,233 per annum. New officers in Delta get $55,361, and a new Vancouver Transit officer will get $56,440 as of April this year.

These wage differences are hurting morale, say RCMP officers.

Cpl. Harry Dhami, a firearms trainer based at the Mounties training academy in Regina, was so upset on behalf of the recruits he guides that he wrote a letter to RCMP Commissioner William Elliot.

"I do not feel you have the passion and knowledge of our history to be in our corner to fix this problem...," Dhami wrote in his letter. "This was your chance to stand beside us however you chose not to.... It's time for you to step aside and hand in your resignation and anything short of that is unacceptable."

A source told CTV that Dhami has since been removed from his duties.

His superior, Chief Supt. Bob Smart in Regina, said: "When it comes to all our employees, regardless to who it is, we need to protect their privacy."

In Vancouver, RCMP Staff Relations Representative Eddie Macdonald finds Dhami's concerns familiar.

"I've been hearing similar sentiments, members are frustrated and disillusioned by what the government has done,"

He says the impact is sinking morale on the force, especially since RCMP officers are not allowed to strike and are not unionized.

When asked if he thought the RCMP was in crisis right now, he had a short answer.

"In my opinion , yes," he said. "Some members say they are going to put in their exit papers and move on elsewhere."

The local MP for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, Keith Martin, said the institution is in a tight spot because of the dispute.

"It's going to compromise the force to deal with anti terrorism and organized crime work they do. They don't even have the manpower they should be doing now," he said.

Concerned officers have set up a website on the pay issue.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Lisa Rossington