Violence focus of new unit

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 07, 2008

Stationed for four years with the Vernon RCMP detachment, Const. Krysta Tanner has seen, first-hand, the devastating effects of domestic violence. Tanner has responded to numerous domestic violence complaints during her four years in the North Okanagan, and knows the everlasting effects such incidents can have on family members. The Halifax native has been chosen to oversee the Vernon detachment’s new domestic violence unit, unveiled by Tanner and Insp. Steve McVarnock Monday. “The purpose of the unit is to prevent death and serious bodily harm from the escalation of violence in relationships,” said Tanner, adding that violence in relationships can take on many forms, including targeted behaviours intended to create or maintain a power imbalance between the two individuals. “This is why we’re creating the unit, to monitor and investigate incidents that present themselves as more complex or high-risk.”

A high-risk case can involve serious bodily harm to historic abuse involving repeat offenders and repeat victims. Attached to the serious crimes unit, a general duty member will be the first responder to a domestic violence incident, unless a serious major crime has occurred. In that case, Tanner will be on scene. For all others, she will do a review and make sure all complaints are investigated that meet RCMP and attorney-general policy. “Any file deemed high risk or complex will be reassigned, investigated and monitored through the domestic violence unit,” said Tanner. “We’ll be able to better provide case specific support to the victim.”

The unit will target incidents in intimate relationships, meaning women and men or homosexual, married, previously married, common-law and dating relationships. It is not to be confused with family violence cases. From 2004-06, the Vernon detachment handled just under 1,500 domestic violence investigations, averaging about 1.5 complaints a day. Of that number, 618 were incidents that involved violence. In 2007, there were just over 400 domestic violence investigations, with about one-third of those cases involving physical violence. Through the first nine months of 2008, local police have investigated 544 files with 181 involving violence. A total of 85 per cent of the callers in such cases are female. “We couldn’t wait any longer to implement this unit,” said McVarnock, who, in describing the urgency over having such a unit, said his gave up one plainclothes position to get Tanner into her new role. Vernon is one of the few detachments in B.C. that employs a domestic violence unit. “It’s all new in the past two years in the RCMP,” said McVarnock. “It’s time to get in this business, do it right and take it seriously.

“The past and present case load of domestic violence has shown there is a dire need for this particular type of specialized investigative service. We want to be on the leading edge in dealing with these issues that affect these victims within our community.” McVarnock said a key element to the program is gain the trust of all victims of domestic violence as the investigator works with them.