By Lyonel Doherty, Times-Chronicle
While the RCMP are making a concerted effort to bring down crime rates in your neighbourhood, one obstacle stands in the way – the growing number of mental health calls.
In a presentation to the regional district last week, RCMP Supt. Brian Hunter said mental health calls are taxing local officers.
“One day last week by 8 a.m. every single officer (in Penticton) was engaged in a mental health call,” he told the board.
“We should be doing police work and focusing on prolific offenders; that’s what we should be doing.”
Hunter said they need to bring the crime rate down, but mental health calls are draining their resources. To combat that, the RCMP is hoping to enhance their partnership with Interior Health to deal with these calls. It has been suggested that mental health nurses accompany the RCMP on these calls.
Hunter said they are responding to twice as many mental health calls per capita due to more vulnerable people suffering from addictions.
Hunter responded to a question by Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen who expressed a concern about the previous business case for getting two additional officers for Oliver and the fact it has “come up short,” which seems to be a continuing theme.
Hunter acknowledged the mayor’s frustration, saying the case has been reviewed and “did not hit the mark” this year. He explained that the province bases its decisions on priorities while looking at which detachments need these resources the most.
“We did not fit their triage,” Hunter said, noting that Penticton and Oliver have one of the highest caseloads in the province.
The superintendent said there are regions and detachments that are worse off than Oliver when it comes to police resources.
“I was told we are right there, but it doesn’t cut it. I’m just as disappointed as anyone else.”
Hunter reminded the board that the Town of Oliver will be transitioning to a municipal RCMP contract once the census pushes the community over 5,000 population (at which point it must pay 70 per cent of policing costs).
In other news, it was reported that the stretch of highway near Kaleden will be getting a safety upgrade to address the uptick in motor vehicle collisions in that area. The Ministry of Transportation is reportedly looking at installing a protected turning lane there.
Hunter brought up another issue of concern relating to recent violence against municipal staff in the Village of Keremeos.
It was reported that a man entered the office and threatened staff with a knife and sledgehammer. He allegedly assaulted some workers and continued to terrorize them outside, according to police.
The suspect was later arrested and taken into custody, facing more than a dozen charges.
Hunter said this incident will have a lifelong effect on the employees.
“It’s a testament to all of us in public life. I encourage everyone to review their security processes.”
Keremeos Mayor Manfred Bauer said the incident was very traumatizing for staff and he thanked the RCMP for attending as quick as they did.
“It could have been much worse.”
Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff said they have an Occupational Health and Safety Committee that deals with issues like the one that occurred in Keremeos.
“Our town hall has a counter that prevents anyone but staff from entering the room.”
The mayor said they are certainly aware of the need to keep their staff and residents safe, more so now since the unfortunate incident in Keremeos.
In the Town of Oliver, Corporate Officer Diane Vaykovich said they have a security alarm button that goes through a security service to the RCMP.
“We don’t need to talk to anyone, just push the button,” she said.
Vaykovich explained that since COVID-19, all buildings have been modified where residents are only let in after pressing a buzzer, and staff can see them on screen.
“Once in, if they (residents) become agitated and are speaking loudly, managers all come out of their office to the front counter,” Vaykovich said. “Hospitals employ this tactic and they call it code white. This quickly de-escalates the agitated person.”
Vaykovich noted there are always two people in the office; no staff member is ever left alone in the building.
In any case, the corporate officer said reviewing security plans and preparing for potential incidents is a good reminder from the RCMP.
