(File photo)

By Dale Boyd

Osoyoos Times

The South Okanagan’s top cop is transferring to Surrey, and I thank him for his service.

I don’t generally leap to respect police or authority, but as a commanding officer De Jager had an admirably zen attitude towards the vitriolic and ignorant comments flooding the aging and irrelevant comments section of community Facebook pages.

De Jager did not care about rumours, innuendo or baseless opinions. He had more important things to worry about than erroneous and exaggerated public perceptions.

My problems with the RCMP are pretty well documented, and police should be held to a higher standard if they choose to take on the mantle of protectors of our community. That being said, area residents should have no problem having a finger or two wagged back at them, since their internet-based personas dish it out so readily.

The reality of property crime in the area will not change with an overwhelming force of whining, as said by the top cop who had the title before De Jager, and I’m sure the commanding officer to follow.

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There is a crucial role for citizens to play constantly left out of one side of this conversation. Those who complain about the RCMP vastly outnumber those who come out and volunteer for block watch programs or Citizens on Patrol. Those programs are in perpetual recruitment mode, almost always looking for more members to help keep the community safe.

Oliver formed its own Community Safety and Crime Prevention committee, which is great, but seems (at least behind closed doors) to be operating under the same assumption that this is an RCMP and bylaw problem, and theirs alone to solve.

Block watch programs in smaller communities in the South Okanagan were praised by De Jager in a meeting with the RDOS earlier this month, and De Jager said according to the stats, these groups are working. You don’t have to be out all night, even volunteering once a month is more than nothing.

It is the RCMP’s job to protect us, yes, but it is the responsibility of everyone in the community to create a safe and vibrant place to live, not just the RCMP.

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Crime has existed since time immemorial, if you think a few more cops on the street will change the tide, you’re wrong. It is also wrong to assume that the RCMP don’t want to have more boots on the ground, they are tied up by budgets like the rest of us.

Head out to your local neighbourhood watch program, volunteer, and add some validity and experience to your complaints.

I would also like to thank De Jager for putting the frightened mice they call “city councillors” in Penticton in their place, politely, pointing out their lack of knowledge of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I thank De Jager for reminding Mayor John Vassilaki that, no, the police are not your private bouncer service for corralling homeless people and panhandlers away from your downtown shops (my words not his).

We should be so lucky to have a replacement for De Jager that would stand up for human rights like he did.