With Files from Kindersley RCMP
Security Cameras, Good Lighting and Alarms Can Help Decrease Property Crime
A Town Hall Meeting was held in Kerrobert last night with 10 people in attendance.
S/Sgt Pat Zunti from Saskatoon, S/Sgt Ray Blais from Kindersley, Cpl. Durocher from Kerrobert and Cpl. Doering from Kindersley were in attendance to answer questions and concerns. Examples and details of what had been happening in Kerrobert and the surround area were given by S/Sgt Ray Blais. Some highlights included:
- Traffic Safety: The RCMP needs to hear about what you believe they need to improve on in terms of education and enforcement. More traffic tickets were written this year, in comparison to the same time-frame last year.
- Drug Issues: Due to ongoing investigations not much could be revealed for details but the RCMP acknowledged that more work needs to be done in that area.
- Property Crimes: The amount of property crimes decreased slightly. Also the number of commercial and residential break and enters decreased significantly. However, there was an increase in the reports of thefts.
- Public Can Help Decrease Crime: The public was reminded that they could decrease property crimes with good lighting in yards, motion-sensitive lighting, alarms and cameras. Camera evidence can be used in court of law. When installing cameras, test them to see if they are in a location that will be able to record the face of a suspect, or a plate on a vehicle. It was stated that parked vehicles are always a target for thieves. Avoid keeping any valuables in your vehicles, and the doors should be locked at all times.
- Volume of Calls: There was an overall increase in the volume of calls for service and traffic in the area, this could be attributed to the increase in population.
When asked about visibility and response times S/Sgt Blais explained the Detachments are not fully staffed. The majority of the time the members have to be dispatched where the calls for service are coming from. However, when officers are needed in Kerrobert other officers join the four members when needed. An example of this was the accident involving a bus and semi that occurred outside of Kerrobert. Not only did Kindersley and Eston members arrive to assist but also officers from Rosetown. Extra help has been created and available. A Provincial Response Team, which includes the SERM officers and highway patrol officers was created. Members from both of these units were also at the recent bus vs. semi accident. SERM officers were also included in a call of thefts in the Plenty district during the summer. Officers had contained an area where they knew the suspect was. The SERM officer knew the area very well, and was able to direct the officers to places where the suspect may be able to get away. As a result, the SERM officer was able to track down and arrest the suspect. With regards to traffic, the Provincial Traffic Unit also gives assistance when needed. This unit is composed of RCMP officers and Saskatoon Police Service officers who are regularly patrolling our highways.
Another point of interest is that not all crimes are committed by locals. Some recent crimes in the area, where the suspects were caught, were committed by people from Calgary and Saskatoon. The suspects had no ties to anybody in the area. Had these suspects not been caught in the act, solving the crime would have been very difficult.
In response to the question as to why it was so hard to recruit more members S/Sgt Blais stated there are several reasons why potential candidates end up going to other police detachments:
- Mobility: When a person is on a city police service, they are in that city for their whole career. Policing with the RCMP has members moving to different locations every 4 or 5 years in average, therefore a member does not stay in one place their entire career.
- Wages and Benefits: The RCMP has to compete with other police agencies in terms of wages and benefits
- Home Province: It is fairly typical for members to want to go home to their home province. This is not necessarily and option for most RCMP officers, as they are posted wherever officers are needed.
The audience commented that a lot of criminal activities are the results of the drug addictions of young adults. This highlights the need for drug addiction counselling and services to be more readily available.
In reference to making a call to RCMP, if you are unsure of which number to call, use 911. Or you can call 310-RCMP (7267). Calling this number puts a caller through to the RCMP call centre and the call is relayed to an officer. If someone calls the Kerrobert Detachment and no one is there to answer the call goes through to the call centre.
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