The Peace River Regional District will invite RCMP detachment commanders from the communities of Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, and Hudson’s Hope, to attend a future committee of the whole meeting to provide a review of policing activities over the past year and priority issues for next year, passing a motion during their March 21 meeting.
The PRRD has invited RCMP delegations to the board previously, typically inviting one detachment commander from each individual community, attending separately, whenever the police have time to commit to a meeting.
Electoral Area B Director Jordan Kealy said it was very informative the last time they had an officer come and speak with the board, with an officer attending on behalf of the Dawson Creek RCMP detachment.
"It was helpful for being able to talk to constituents," said Kealy. "And when it comes to individual towns, I think it's important to be able to cover them individually, just to show the differences, the problems they're facing, which is definitely different in every community."
A report was attached to the motion which explained the rationale for inviting RCMP officers back, which is reopen lines of communication, noting that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the PRRD received yearly updates from RCMP Detachment representatives as part of the RCMP's Annual Performance Plan (APP).
"The APP is a way for the RCMP to improve local community consultation, accountability, and risk management. The AAP is also used to streamline how Detachment Commanders and Unit Commanders consult and validate their community plans with mayors, councils, and regional districts," notes the report.
"The RCMP solicits input from their residents, stakeholders, community leaders, and organizations to capture their communities' needs, concerns, and issues. As priorities can change rapidly, this information is used to ensure that policing services are meeting the demands of the citizens they serve," it adds.
The information shared with PRRD about local policing challenges will likely be given to Provincial agencies and ministries to advocate for crime reduction policies and programs, and general policing support in the region.
