Pubdate: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Kamloops Daily News Contact: http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679 Author: Robert Koopmans Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police) POLICE PROMISE RAISES DOUBTS City officials want RCMP managers to explain what became of a promised unit of major crime and drug investigators, to be stationed as part of the district's police contingent at the Aberdeen office. City administrator Randy Diehl said he will ask the commander of the RCMP's southeast district for clarification about assurances made by B.C. deputy commissioner Bev Busson and B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman. Similar requests will also be made to Busson and Coleman. In a letter to council dated Aug. 18, 2003, Busson said she intended to establish a joint general investigation and street-level drug enforcement team, comprising seven members, in Kamloops. At the same time, Busson said three other members of the district's major crimes unit would not move from Kamloops. Diehl also said a similar verbal commitment came from Coleman in early 2004. Both commitments were made as city councillors pondered funding increases to hire more city-funded RCMP officers. To date, the promised unit has not been established and two of the three major crimes officers that were to remain in Kamloops have been transferred to Kelowna. Further, Supt. Don Harrison, commander of the southeast district, says there are no plans to put additional officers in the district office in Kamloops. "I don't see any more district personnel being put at the (Kamloops) district office at this time," he said. "We've had no increases in provincial positions for a number of years. Is Kamloops the No. 1 (staffing) priority? Not at all." The Kamloops office of RCMP's southeast district, situated near the Aberdeen Mall, is distinct from the City of Kamloops RCMP. While the city pays the tab for the 106 officers staffed out of the Battle Street detachment, the province and federal governments pay for positions at the district office. District officers serve a number of roles. Major crimes officers, for example, investigate serious crimes in small communities without dedicated investigators, in places like Barriere, Clearwater and Ashcroft. As well, district officers will co-operate with city units when requested, perhaps to help in the initial stages of a murder investigation when time is critical and more manpower is needed. The southeast district headquarters is located in Kelowna. In the past few years, numerous officers have been moved from outlying regional offices, including Kamloops, to the Kelowna headquarters. RCMP believe the centralization of services is more efficient and a better use of resources. Diehl informed city council in February he was told the addition of 10 district officers at the Aberdeen office would indirectly aid the City of Kamloops detachment. "It's not the same as hiring a member, but there are some positive effects from having extra members in the district office," said Diehl. "That's what we were told. It's more helping hands in the region, and what's good for the region is good for Kamloops." Newly appointed Kamloops city detachment commander Supt. Jim Begley said there is some advantage to having district officers nearby. "We take advantage of district services all the time. If we need something from the district, we get it. We can latch on to (district resources) from anywhere, but it is easier if they are situated locally," he said. But Harrison disputed suggestions an infusion of district officers would lighten the workload for Kamloops city officers. Provincial officers do not do city police work, he said. While arrangements are in place that allow for short-term sharing of resources, there is no other operational or investigational benefit to a municipal detachment from nearby district Mounties. "(District officers) are too busy on their own," he said. "They may help for a few short days, and they are out of there. We are trying to keep them in one building out of one commander. They work out of Kelowna." Diehl said he'd be disappointed if the promised Mounties don't materialize. If nothing else, the addition of seven or more RCMP salaries adds to the economic base of the community, especially at a time when other RCMP jobs are leaving. "There would be a direct economic benefit to having more (officers) come here, there's no doubt," he said. The RCMP closed a district communications centre located in Kamloops this year and moved it to Kelowna. The move saw the transfer of 25 communications jobs to Kelowna. Kamloops Mayor Mel Rothenburger added he'd like to know one way or the other if the promised new positions will arrive or not. "It's been a year," he said. "It would have been a bit of a bonus, in a sense it probably would have been some assistance to our detachment." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek