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Police get reinforcements for fire situation

Extra patrols needed for increased highway traffic plus to protect evacuated areas
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By Keith McNeill

The forest fire situation with the Little Fort complex had begun just a few days earlier but Clearwater RCMP detachment was already getting good support from E Division, according to Cpl. Mark Labossiere in a report to town council on July 11.

“They called me up and asked, ‘What do you need?’” the detachment’s acting NCO-in-charge said.

E Division is the unit responsible for the RCMP in British Columbia.

“The community has been working with us as well,” Labossiere added.

Reinforcements came from Kamloops Traffic Services and Road Safety, Kelowna, Abbotsford and elsewhere in the Lower Mainland.

They helped with the extra traffic on Highway 5 caused by the closures of Highway 97 plus to control access to and patrol areas under evacuation orders such as around Hallamore and Dunn lakes.

Other partners included conservation officers, fire departments, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Argo Road Maintenance.

At the same time, regular policing continued as before, Labossiere said.

It was important that members get time off to avoid exhaustion, he pointed out.

RCMP members keep busy

In his report to council, Labossiere said that Clearwater detachment members had investigated 483 files during the second quarter of 2017 compared to 436 during the second quarter of 2016. Traffic members investigated 99 files during the reporting period, making a total of 506 calls for service investigated from April 1 to June 30.

The detachment was not fully staffed. Sgt. Grant Simpsons was due to take over charge on July 17. The new NCO-in-charge is coming from Invermere.

Clearwater detachment and traffic service units issued a total 866 tickets and warnings during the reporting period. A total of 30 drug seizures were made, four impaired investigations resulted in driver suspensions, and 12 drivers were charged and had their vehicles impounded for excessive speeding.

Clearwater detachment members investigated 39 Criminal Code offenses and laid 31 charges during the three month period.

Melody Romeo, manager of the North Thompson police-based victims assistance program, had 16 new client referrals from April to June, making a year-to-date total of 36. She is actively involved in 22 cases.

Community policing activities include Cst. Jay Meyer and Conservation Officer Warren Chayer coaching softball, Cst. Randy Seidl being involved with Wells Gray Search and Rescue, members practicing a school lockdown in Blue River, and Cpl. Labossiere attending Canada Day celebrations in his red serge, and two members taking part in the Big Bike ride.

The local traffic service members work with Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement (CVSE) on conducting road-checks.