In terms of policing, Salmon Arm and area is a busy place, with distracted, aggressive and impaired driving taking the top spot.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Scott West told Salmon Arm councillors the local detachment has been active on a number of fronts in the first quarter of 2016.
“We are working hard to make things safer,” West said, noting that includes traffic enforcement. “We had two members and three honourable mentions listed on the Alexa’s list (in April); they’re outstanding officers.”
Alexa’s team is named for a young Lower Mainland girl who was killed by a drunk driver almost eight years ago. Police officers who take at least 12 impaired drivers off the roads are added to the honour roll.
“Four of our members took 50-plus impaired drivers off the roads just in Salmon Arm,” he said.
West noted that motor-vehicle accidents were up year-to-date, as were thefts from motor vehicles.
“Theft from motor vehicles was the priority last month as it had increased about 400 per cent (from 11 in first quarter 2015 to 26 in 2016),” reported West at the April 25 council meeting.
A campaign to remind people to remove valuables and lock their vehicles, combined with stepped up patrols in affected areas, was effective.
“The numbers decreased to 136 per cent so the trend was arrested and has returned to a monthly average range.”
Break and enters were up in the first quarter of 2016 – from three in 2015 to five to date 2016.
He said higher than normal temperatures sparked annual complaints of cabin break and enters earlier this year.
While complaints involving mental health issues are up, something for which West says he has no answers, domestic violence calls were well down.
“I don’t think it’s under-reporting, I think it’s as a result of people choosing to leave the area,” he told council.
In terms of mental health, West said RCMP officers have been getting more training, with the result that physical contact is down to about four out of 10 incidents from the previous average of eight.
West says when he took over the detachment last year, he had concerns about training, including the need to switch to police carbines.
“From my perspective, it’s a good thing, because a patrol carbine (with single bullets) is less damaging than a shotgun in an armed confrontation,” he said, noting only two of his officers were trained to use tasers, and one of them spent most of the time in the detachment.
Five officers have since been trained and are now spread across the watches.
Following the meeting, West said he is proud to serve the RCMP in a community like Salmon Arm.
“It has been my impression that people here care about one another and support the local RCMP in our efforts to combat the criminal element,” he said, acknowledging the support of partner agencies such as the hospital, the school district, provincial Crown, the city, regional district, the Safe Society and mental health.
“I also take great pride in the members here and their dedication to their job and to this community. They spend long hours investigating files. A high percentage of our officers are involved in mentoring youth through coaching sports and being leaders within local youth-oriented groups.”