Fewer officers keep crime in check

Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 16, 2011 1:00 AM
 Despite having nearly 25 per cent fewer officers on duty, the RCMP is still managing to keep an effective crime-fighting record.  The Vernon/North Okanagan detachment is currently down 22 of its 106 members (due to maternity/paternity leave, injuries and other restricted or off-duty status’). Between April and June the detachment had even fewer resources as they were down 28 members. “At any given time we’re normally down 12 to 18 per cent. This is an unusual spike,” said Supt. Reg Burgess, adding that the school liaison officer has even had to be pulled from her duties so that she could assist with general duty.  “We are hurting a bit right now.”  But despite having fewer officers, the local police are still managing to reduce crime rates. The detachment recorded a 7.68 per cent decrease in total criminal code offences between April and June. That number is above the national average of 5.2 per cent.  “We continue to beat the average in fighting crime,” said Burgess, noting a May undercover drug sting where 21 arrests were made. “We targeted a group that was looking to take over the drug trade and we are fairly confident we broke up what was going to become a controlling group in the North Okanagan area.” A few members even managed to go above and beyond the call of duty in impaired driving enforcement. Constables Matt Innes, Ryan Fletcher and Eric Beaulieu made Alexa’s Team – a special award given to officers who successfully lay 10 impaired driving charges in a year. Innes and Fletcher even made the all star-list for more than 25 impaired driving investigations in one year.  

The RCMP have also been effective on the water. “We have done more enforcement on the lakes and rivers this year than we’ve done in the past,” said Burgess. With the help of the Southeast district, on Kalamalka Lake​ alone 16 patrols were made, with 389 boats checked, 151 warnings issued, six boats were escorted off the lake for equipment violations and five charges were made. “Towing without a spotter is the most common,” said Burgess.  Despite an increased presence on and around the lake, one Coldstream politician suggests more patrols and boater education might alleviate problems around the Kalavista boat launch.  “They (residents) are still reporting seeing people riding in their boats between the parking area and the launch,” said Coun. Richard Enns. Meanwhile Coun. Maria Besso is concerned that some crimes are going unnoticed due to the lack of police resources.  “It does worry me when you say that one-quarter of your staff is not available,” Besso told Burgess. “I think people are not reporting because they know that police are overstressed.” Although police may not always be able to attend immediately, he encourages the public to continue reporting criminal acts.