Columbia Valley RCMP Report

At noon on Oct. 23, Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment responded to a single vehicle accident on Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park.

A 1997 Ford Expedition lost control on curves in slush and ended up in the ditch overturning.  The female driver, age 30 of Invermere, was taken to the park maintenance area to be attended to by BC Ambulance.  The driver was taken to Invermere and District Hospital with non life threatening injuries. Road conditions were poor at the time.

Assault charge in Radium

Columbia Valley Detachment attended to a complaint of domestic assault in the 4900 block of Hwy 93 in Radium at 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 25. As a result of the initial investigation on scene a 54-year-old male was arrested and charged with assault. The victim did not require medical treatment; however, showed signs of being assaulted. The male is to appear in Invermere Provincial court Jan 14.

Licence plate stolen

Also on Oct. 25, the detachment received a complaint of theft of a front licence plate from a 1998 Green Hyundai Accent on Foresters Landing Rd. The plate has been entered on the computer and if checked on another vehicle will come back as stolen.

Motor home hit by thieves

On Oct. 27, Columbia Valley Detachment received a complaint of theft from a motor home while parked at Gypsom Mine Haul Rd.  Tools, electrical equipment, car batteries and chainsaws were stolen.

Bear helps self to Fairmont snacks

A bear paid a resident a visit in the 4000 block of Mountainside Rd in Fairmont Hot Springs on Oct. 27, when it detected food items left in a cooler on the deck. Police attended and offered some wine to go with the meat but this was politely declined.

Once the bear completed the meal it wondered off into the distance. The bear, however, returned to the same deck for seconds. When no seconds were being served up the bear again departed.  This is the time that bears want to fatten themselves up to prepare for the long winter. Let’s not encourage them to come into the community by not leaving items out or on your trees that will entice them to come into town.  It’s always unfortunate when we are put in a position to destroy these animals.

Winter tires

Get them on. NOW!

Movember

It is that time of the year for men to grow their mustaches and raise money for prostate cancer research. Last year the detachment members raised over $2,000.  This year, if the Detachment can raise over $2,000 rather than shave my mustache off, which was far to traumatic, I have advised the members that I would have Julie streak my hair with RCMP colors of red, yellow and blue. If you want to see that, you can go to the following web site

https://mobro.co/columbiavalleyrcmp and make a donation. A receipt is sent to you via e mail and we are notified. You can indicate donation to the detachment or an individual officer; ME.

Fraud alert

A citizen in the community received a letter with a cheque from Purolator for approximately $4,000, asking that you attempt to cash it and send it via Western Union. Something to do with Mystery Shoppers. Purolator does not do this.

Theory on education

Back in the days a Grade 12 education opened up doors. Even with police work today they are looking for applicants with post-secondary education.  It is seldom now to see an applicant enter the police force without post-secondary education. Unfortunately, we are losing out on some good people as not everyone is meant for college or university.

A degree in street smarts and life skills should count for something. I will never knock higher education but I do have a theory on education.  Bottom line with me is that everyone has a certain tolerance on education and if you personally go over that tolerance line, you start getting stupid. With me it was one year of college then I started getting dizzy and noticed symptoms of going beyond my personal tolerance.

Had a young smart officer work with me not long ago with a degree in computer science. While on the job he was working on a second degree and going further with his education. He was new at police work and one day he came into my office all flustered. When asked what was bothering him he replied, “Marko, these people we deal with, they lie to the police.”

I don’t know how long I was out for, but when I came around I had him take a seat and I explained my theory on education.

His next comment to me was, “Are you trying to tell me something?” I told him that I feared that if he read one more book he may risk the chance of going over the edge and get stupid. And, there is no coming back from this.

He took my advice and he went on to become a very strong officer. He is now working with his knowledge of computers, tracking organized crime finances. We still keep in touch and he now reads for entertainment.

S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac

Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment

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