Theft from motor vehicles and mischief of property are a couple of crimes that are trending downward according to the latest quarterly report presented by the Burns Lake RCMP detachment.
Staff Sgt. Grant MacDonald and Corp. Jack Ashford were present at the Village of Burns Lake council meeting last Tuesday to present the detachment's quarterly report to the mayor and council, and included numerous positive outlooks.
Along with the downward trend in motor vehicle theft and property mischief crimes, the report notes that the boat patrols that the Burns Lake RCMP have conducted this summer have been wildly successful.
Boater compliance when it comes to having safety gear, such as life jackets on the boat have been high, and there have been no incidents related to alcohol on the boat.
The only area in which RCMP officers have issued warnings is related to boaters having their operators card.
"We did issue a number of warnings in regard to having the operators card. People have claimed they had it but they didn't have it with them. We've given them a specified time to give proof that they've taken the course," MacDonald said, "It's all about getting compliance within the recreational users."
MacDonald said that he and the entire detachment is very pleased with the fact that they've had zero incidents with alcohol on the boats this summer, and it's something he hopes continues going forward as the detachment as a number of boat patrols remaining this summer.
Currently the Burns Lake RCMP detachment has 14 officers and four public servants, leaving the detachment down one officer and one public servant.
The breakdown includes Staff Stg. MacDonald, two corporals, including Corp. Ashford and 11 other officers, three of which are dedicated to First Nations policing and the other eight dedicated to general duty.
Ashford told council that the detachment is anticipated to have big changes come next summer where as many as four officers could be changing detachments.
“We are preparing to lose four members next summer and having to train four new members,” Ashford said.
Training, in regard to First Nation policing is one of the biggest issues for the detachment due to the six First Nations communities in the Burns Lake area.
While the detachment may have three officers solely dedicated to First Nations policing, all members of the detachment are required to complete mandatory First Nations policing training.
Other training that the detachment has put it’s members through is two components of domestic violence training, firearms training, taser training and operational training, where officers are sent to Chilliwack to be trained in first aid, scenario training and officer engagement training.
Operational training provides officers with simulations to improve their reactions in different situations.
“It engages critical incident escalation training, so for example from time to time you’ll have contact with mental health issues and concerns and you have to approach those situations from a different view,” Ashford said.
The Burns Lake RCMP continues to involve themselves in the community.
Officers have been part of the food recovery program with Overwaitea initiated by Jennifer Petersen, engaged with the high school in liaison terms, involved with the Burns Lake and District Chamber of Commerce, involved with Meals on Wheels and the Canadian Cancer Society to name a view.
Currently, Const. Dave Wolchuck is involved with the Cops for Cancer bike ride taking place in Northern B.C. at the moment.
The top concern for the Burns Lake RCMP however, remains violence against women and sexual violence.
“A concern we’re having is breaking the silence that exists among young women when it comes to selling their bodies within the community,” Ashford said, “It’s an issue right now where we’re finding we have to deal with head on.”
The RCMP is focusing on a two pronged approach to this issue.
The first is educating community members.
A committee has been set up where discussion can be held and ideas can be brainstormed to help break the silence and educate people in the community.
The second prong is the investigation work the RCMP does.
“We’ll investigate anytime but it has to come from someone speaking. We need the information,” Ashford said.
To combat the silence the RCMP has partnered with the Elizabeth Fry Society to promote a poster campaign that will begin in September.
The plan is to partner with local businesses, such as bars and restaurants to put up these posters in washrooms to work with people to get them thinking about this issue.
The RCMP provides quarterly reports as part of their performance plan that is prepared annually in line with the fiscal year.
It is updated every quarter.