Inside
● ●
COACH WINS $20,000 P. 3 EDITORIAL P. 6
● ●
ABORIGINAL PROGRAMS @ CNC P. 5 REDISCOVER VANDERHOOF P. 12
E xpress OMINECA
Publications Mail Contract # 40007840
$1.30 Inc. GST Vol. 36 No. 21
Serving Vanderhoof ● Fort Fraser ● Fraser Lake & Area www.ominecaexpress.com
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
RCMP short-staffed in Vanderhoof Sam Redding Omineca Express The RCMP has been struggling to meet their caseload here in Vanderhoof but no more recruits will come in until an audit is completed by the Superintendent. “We are continuing to ask Chief Superintendant Rod Booth of the E Division of the RCMP to do an audit of our staffing situation here,” said Gerry Thiessen, Vanderhoof mayor. “We believe that we have been short-staffed for a very long period of time.” The Vanderhoof detachment received an additional person last year on a semi-permanent basis pending the audit but that still doesn’t solve the problem. For 2011-2012 the RCMP released a report detailing a reduction in 1,791 employees in two years and $280 million to be cut and Vanderhoof may pay a price for that. The detachment is responsible for 90 kilometers of highway 16 and a large area of wilderness. The RCMP imprisons approximately 75 prisoners in a month, a large number considering the small community. “When you look at the size of the community and the case load which we have in Vanderhoof and then when you look at neighboring communities and their size and their staffing, we’re in a much different situation,” said Thiessen. “The only way that we’ll be able to affect crime in a timely manner is if we have adequate staffing levels.” The Vanderhoof detachment has 11 officers in total. One commander, two supervisors and eight constables and one of those constables is dedicated to working on Saik’uz cases. So Vanderhoof has seven officers working in the community and they are often on call. Vanderhoof is a very anti-crime community according to Sgt. Jason Keays commander of the Vanderhoof RCMP detachment. Residents speak up when they see something wrong and try to keep the police informed on everything. This helps bond the RCMP to the community. “My eight officers are responsible to provide police services, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for a large geographical area including Saik’uz First Nations. They work a heavy caseload compared to other areas of the province, they are required to attend court and they need to update their training. We also have to consider any injuries and maternity or paternity leave” said Sgt. Jason Keays, Vanderhoof RCMP.
Canfor picnic gives back The picnic on Saturday was a chance for Canfor to give back to the community and a chance for the community to eat and maybe win some camping and survival gear. Canfor was celebrating their 75th Anniversary.
These and many other duties keep the detachment very busy. “What helps is that the vast majority of people in Vanderhoof support the police by reporting crimes and providing information on criminal activity.” The RCMP, much like the healthcare industry and many others, is always told to “do more with less” and while officers are ready and willing this can cause burnout, injuries both mental and physical and lower priority cases are less worked. If someones house is broken into and their chainsaw is stolen the RCMP can’t be there right away, in the lower mainland they wouldn’t show up for at least three days. They’d tell the owner to try and not touch anything, but of course that often doesn’t work. This is because the RCMP is focusing on their prolific offender program. By focusing on prolific offenders the RCMP forces them to either seek treat-
ment, leave town or go to jail. The offenders realize that if they keep doing what they’re doing they have to choose one of these options and since the prolific offender program is expanding across the province these individuals are being targeted so much that they have to consider their other options. The reason why Vanderhoof is understaffed and neighbouring communities are not is because it was off the radar for mayor and council until about five years ago. And if the situation isn’t fixed soon then it could get much more difficult for RCMP. “I forecast that the town is going to get busier what with New Gold’s Blackwater project starting up in the next few years and other industrial developments that will start to really boost the economy in Vanderhoof,” said Sgt. Keays. Keays said that if he had to put a number on it, four more RCMP officers might be enough to police Vanderhoof properly.
Flagger injured A flagger was struck by a pick-up truck while working on Highway 16. The 41-year-old was working when a grey Chevrolet hit him. He was taken to Prince George with multiple fractures but speed was not a factor in the accident. The driver of the truck was 76 years old and might not have followed the flaggers directions as he headed west. RCMP are asking for any witnesses to contact the Vanderhoof detachment.
Do You Take This Opportunity To Advertise? In the August 7, September 4, 2013 editions of the Omineca Express we will be featuring a Wedding Page. On the pages readers will find news, trends and advice about everything related to the wedding process. Will you take this opportunity to increase your exposure with a wellplaced ad on our wedding pages for 2013? Say “I do” and call the Omineca Express 567-9258 or fax 567-2070 to reserve your space today.