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Drug dealers and bad boaters among top priorities for Sicamous RCMP

Busting marijuana grow ops and providing on-lake enforcement will continue to be priorities for the RCMP in Sicamous.

Last summer was one of the best years yet for enforcement on the lake, Sicamous RCMP Sgt. Carl Vinet explained to district council at its Feb. 23 committee of the whole meeting. The successful season, Vinet said, was largely due to a  relationship with other detachments and government agencies who worked together on a lake enforcement initiative that included a multi-agency blitz on the August long weekend.

“It was reported to me by BC Ambulance that it was their best weekend ever with respect to their calls for service on the lake,” said Vinet. “There’s another issue that is problematic for the ambulance, to respond to things on the lake, but because we had a sustained presence, it was very positive – something we’d like to continue in the coming year.”

Vinet said the Sicamous detachment also had a record year for taking down drug dealers and marijuana grow ops. Eleven grow ops were busted in the 2010/11 year, seven outdoor and four indoor.

“They’re there and the information is getting filtered to us and we’ve been fortunate to get the evidence together to do these grow operations…,” said Vinet.

Another ongoing initiative for local RCMP will be the prolific offender program, where police focus on the small percentage of individuals responsible for the majority of crimes in the area.

“Through communication within the detachment,  with probation, with Crown counsel, with surrounding detachments, we identify the problematic people within our community, or who would influence our community and crime in the community, and we specifically target these people,” said Vinet. “We stay on their cases. If they have curfews or conditions, we make sure they abide by these, and if they come to our attention on the criminal side, no matter how insignificant the crime might be, we hit them hard, just to send a message.”

A police presence in the schools was also a priority that will continue. One example is the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program that was taught in Parkview Elementary. Vinet said he would be discussing with the principals of Parkview and Eagle River Secondary ways officers can be more accessible to students in the schools.

An education and enforcement program was also created to deal with scooter and e-bike riders – something that was expected to be more problematic than it was.

“The e-bike scenarios that are problematic, as most of you know, are people who have lost their drivers licence and have found an e-bike as a mode of transportation,” said Vinet.

Regardless, Mayor Malcolm MacLeod raised the issue of e-bike owners riding on sidewalks and public pathways, despite a bylaw prohibiting this. He also asked if police could focus attention on the crosswalk on Highway 97B, where vehicles are not stopping for kids.

Coun. Lynn Miller asked Vinet if local RCMP members could get more involved in community functions. Vinet said he could make the suggestion, but couldn’t tell officers what to do in their off time.

“I have six members, three of which are single, no kids and no real attachment to the community,” said Vinet. “It becomes very difficult for them to find a grounding into the community. When they get long periods of days off, they go home to their families… Nobody stays around here. That’s the reality, that’s the dynamic of the detachment.”

MacLeod and council spoke highly of the August long weekend enforcement blitz on the lake and asked if the initiative might include the July long weekend as well. Vinet said this could be discussed with the other agencies involved, who are likely only planning for a repeat of the August long weekend. However, an important element of that blitz was the houseboat Twin Anchors donated for use as a floating base.

“If we know, we can plan for it because it made a big difference to have the platform out there,” said Vinet. “Because now members were committed to what they were doing and there was no distraction and we’re that close to the two stores and Nielsen Beach, which is basically where it all happens.”

Vinet said he could not ask for use of a boat. But MacLeod and district administrator Alan Harris explained that, if need be, something might be arranged through the Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process, which has a budget for on-water enforcement.

 



Lachlan Labere

About the Author: Lachlan Labere

Editor of the Salmon Arm Observer, Shuswap Market, and Eagle Valley News. I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to keep our readers informed and engaged.
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