Sgt. Randy Bosch, expects many people will turn out at the Sonora Community Centre April 14 for a community forum about crime in Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire file photo)
The commander of the Osoyoos RCMP detachment is hoping for a full house when a community policing forum is held next Thursday evening at the Sonora Community Centre.
Staff Sgt. Randy Bosch, who took over as commander of the local detachment last summer, made a presentation to Town of Osoyoos council in early December voicing his concerns about the rapid increase in property crime and fraud in and around Osoyoos.
The problem had been increasing in severity for several months and Bosch told council that he thought it would be a good idea to hold a community forum to inform the public about the issue and educate them about steps they can take to prevent them from being victims of crime.
Four months later, Bosch and officers with the local detachment are hoping for a large turnout when the community forum takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday, April 14.
“We’re ready and anxious to go,” said Bosch.
A recent community forum on the increasing crime problem in Oliver attracted a crowd in excess of 200 people and Bosch is confident there will be perhaps twice as many people in attendance for the Osoyoos forum.
“I’m hoping we get a really nice crowd,” said Bosch. “This will be an opportunity for anyone who has any questions to speak directly with myself and our officers and get some answers.”
The agenda for the forum will include a presentation from officers about the increase in crime in Osoyoos over the past couple of years, focusing specifically on property crime such as stole vehicles and break and enters, as well as the huge increase in various fraud schemes, said Bosch.
This will be followed by a lengthy question and answer session, where members of the public will be informed about what steps they can take to ensure they don’t become victims of crime, said Bosch.
All six officers who work out of the Osoyoos detachment will be on hand to provide information and answer questions, said Bosch.
“They will all be there,” he said. “I made it very clear how important this meeting is and they’ve all assured me they will be there.”
South Okanagan Superintendent Kevin Hewco and Staff Sgt. Kirsten Marshall, who both work out of Penticton, will also be in attendance, said Bosch.
The good news is that since his presentation to council back in December, the crime rate in Osoyoos has dipped considerably, said Bosch.
“We’ve managed to put several what we call prolific offenders in jail and this has resulted in a pretty dramatic decrease in criminal activity in our community,” he said. “We will be discussing the issue of prolific offenders at the meeting and the steps we’re taking to make sure these repeat offenders are caught.”
Because it takes so much time and effort to organize a forum like this, Bosch wouldn’t commit to holding one every year, but he did say he’s more than willing to organize information sessions for specific issues relating to policing issues in our community.
“One of the biggest issues we’re having to deal with is various frauds … there are a lot of them going on right now,” he said. “Some are very complex and some are pretty simple, but I’m thinking of putting together another session dealing specifically with fraud later this summer.”
Bosch said Mayor Sue McKortoff and several members of town council have told him they will also be attending the forum next week and will be available to answer questions from members of the public.
Anyone planning on attending the forum should arrive well before the meeting officially gets underway at 6:30 p.m.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
RCMP in Oliver recently held a similar community forum that was well attended. Oliver is experiencing similar problems with break and enters and frauds. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
