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A day in the life of a detachment
By S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac
Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment
Rather than do up a whack of individual events over the week I will go over a typical day in the life of the detachment – for 2012, July 19.
0500 hrs – Columbia Valley Detachment receive a report of a break and enter and ongoing assault at a residence in the Dry Gulch area. Cst Ralph and writer are contacted and respond to the residence. The cause of the call was a door was busted open and a female and male adults were confronted by a 29-year-old male well known to the detachment. The suspect assaulted the adult male, threatened the female and stole a lap top computer. The suspect male was described as being intoxicated. The suspect had departed in a vehicle before police arrived.
0530 – Police depart the scene to attend to the suspects residence. While en route to a possible suspect, a vehicle passes the police vehicle, headed back in the direction of the victims’ house. Police turn around and as we approach the intersection of Hwy 93/95 and Juniper Heights the vehicle is noted to run off the road. The driver is identified as the 29-year-old suspect. The stolen computer is located in the vehicle. The police enter an impaired investigation as well as a robbery and breach conditions charge.
0542 to 0700 hrs – Breath demand is read and the driver and robbery suspect is now charged with impaired driving, driving over .08 and lodged in cells to be remanded for court.
0715 hrs – As a result of a possible distress signal observed yesterday evening on Mt. Swansea, Search and Rescue Victoria is contacted to assist the detachment in ensuring no one is in any difficulty.
0750 – Contact is made with local search team and arrangements made to secure a helicopter and search the area. Brief meeting is held with the person who reported the incident.
0830 – I attend the hospital to get some blood work done after starving for 12 hours only to be told the lab is not open. I’m in uniform with a gun and starving. They took pity on me and drew blood.
0910 – Helicopter out of Golden is secured and will attend to assist Invermere Search and Rescue.
1000 – Attend a meeting.
1030 – Finally a quick breakfast for Cst. Ralph and myself. Starvation ends.
1115 – Meet up with Search and Rescue and determine no one was in distress or located. All is well. Many thanks to our local Search and Rescue.
1200 – 29-year-old male awakens in cells and complains of being sore and needs a smoke. I oblige.
1250 – Columbia Valley Detachment is contacted and advised that an adult male, subject to an urgent media release, had departed the psychiatric unit in Kamloops and may be in Invermere. Male is known to be violent and during an arrest took on seven police officers in the past. Further checks with a member confirmed the male was seen in Radium last evening and possibly at a residence in Radium.
1300 – Cst. Michaud called out to conduct patrols in civilian clothes in attempts to locate this male. Cst. Michaud requested to check the bus schedule at Radium Esso and show staff the picture of the male in question.
1325 – While making inquiries at Radium Esso, Cst. Michaud observes a male with outstanding warrants and a person of interest in the death of Cory Jarock enter the store. An arrest is made and members at the detachment respond to assist. The 23-year-old male from the valley is lodged in cells. Remand documents prepared.
1400 – 23-year-old male arrested in Radium is lodged in cells. Paper work is ongoing with this arrest.
1455 – an alert citizen who had watched the news and observed the picture of the psychiatric patient from Kamloops, sights the male walking towards A&W.
1500 – Cpl. Simpson, detachment muscle, is called out from home to assist. Cst. Michaud in civilian clothes is sent to A&W to confirm identity. Once identity confirmed, detachment members swoop in and make the arrest without any problems. This male is lodged in cells with the other two to make arrangements to get him back to the hospital.
1530 – First suspect involved in the accident is taken to the hospital. Cpl. Simpson remains with him at the hospital until the doctor can see him.
1800 – Cst. Ralph contacts Crown and arranges for bail hearings to keep two males in custody until court Wednesday July 25. More paper work.
1900 – Cst. Michaud escorts the male who needs to eventually be returned to Kamloops to East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook.
2030 – Cpl. Simpson escorts BC Ambulance with the robbery suspect to Cranbrook Hospital and returns with the prisoner early in the morning.
Bail hearings are eventually completed by Cst. Ralph.
2300 hrs – Cst. Ralph and writer finally call it quits; 16 hour shift completed.
Thankfully, not a typical day.
