Village of Chase Mayor Rick Berrigan will be pursuing more policing resources for the area following a town hall meeting on recent criminal activity in the community.
Organized by Chase RCMP and the village, the April 22 meeting at the curling rink was well-attended by residents and police representatives alike. It was an opportunity for those officers present, including Chase Sgt. Gary Heebner to express concerns.
He noted the detachment is currently short three officers (one is on long-term sick leave, while replacements for the other two are expected to arrive in May), but is responsible for a large geographic area, including Blind Bay, North Shuswap and west to Pritchard. It was also acknowledged that the region’s population grows exponentially during the summer, stretching local policing resources even farther.
Chase residents pointed out how this can leave the community without adequate police coverage.
Heebner said he’s resubmitted a proposal for additional members and is awaiting a response. In the meantime, he suggested locals could lobby the province for more policing resources.
And that is what Berrigan plans to do, starting with a call to Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone.
“The comment was made, ‘well mayor, get on it,’ so I immediately contacted our MLA, Mr. Stone, who I actually just talked to today,” said Berrigan. “There is a business plan asking for more officers that was created a little while ago. I’m going to be able to get a copy of that and probably, within the next two to three weeks. Minister Stone and myself will get together for a meeting and we’ll try and figure out a game plan on how we can lobby the provincial government. I guess that’s step one of what we can do.”
Berrigan acknowledged how much recent criminal activity has been crimes of opportunity, and he concurred with police that residents need to be proactive and take precautions.
“We can’t live the way we used to live 30 years ago – unfortunately things need to be locked up now,” said Berrigan.
Residents voiced frustration regarding local drug houses they know of, that continue to operate seemingly with impunity.
“Last time you had a deal here on drugs and everything else like that, it was, ‘Oh, we’re waiting to catch the big guy,” commented Chase Citizens on Patrol chair Rollie Mockford, speaking on his own behalf. “I’m worried more about the little guy, the little dealer two doors down from me where there’s traffic all hours of the night, and I’m sitting there worrying what’s going to go down.”
Heebner explained how in a small community like Chase, it is difficult to perform the undercover operations police employ with similar drug operations in larger communities. He did note, however, that no crime is too small to report.
“Even a small snippet may be the connecting detail we need on about three or four other events that have occurred,” said Heebner.