Columbia Valley RCMP Report

At 4:35 p.m. on June 22 Columbia Valley Detachment members were requested to attend a minor accident involving a 88 Ford pickup and a 2004 GMC station wagon. The accident happened near the grocery store in Radium. The damage was minimal and no injuries were sustained. The drivers were simply advised to exchange driver and vehicle information and contact their insurance company. Detachment members will not be attending accidents, during the busy summer, where the damage is minimal, with no injuries and the vehicles are not blocking the road.  Other priority calls and investigations due to man power resources during July and August will be keeping the officers busy.

Crew/company spoken to regarding lack of safety

The detachment received a traffic complaint June 22 in regards to a painting crew in the town area that appeared to have no flagging people providing direction to drivers or properly wearing safety equipment. This causes some confusion for the drivers and puts the workers at risk. If you happen to see a situation like this, give the detachment a quick call.  Police did attend and spoke with the operator of the company. Work Safe B.C. was also advised of the complaint.   The crew complied with the police request.

Edgewater argument; rifle seized

Columbia Valley Detachment members responded to a complaint of a threat in the Edgewater area June 22, in regards to two adult males in an argument.  A 47-year-old male was spoken to in regards to the threat and no charges were requested.  As a result of the investigation it was determined that the male was in possession of a rifle but his possession licence had expired. The weapon was not involved in any threat; however, the rifle was seized until the male renewed his possession licence.

The geese were not harmed

Columbia Valley Detachment members responded to a complaint of two males on a balcony on 3rd Avenue shooting what appeared to be a gun in the direction of geese in the wetlands at 3:35 p.m. on June 23.  Attendance determined that the gun was a plastic toy gun that shoots spring loaded plastic bullets that could not travel any great distance.  The males co-operated and it was learned the geese were not being harmed.  The males were advised that given what the citizen observed this was taken seriously and to discontinue.

Grad 2012 – be safe and look after one another

Congratulations to all the kids graduating this weekend. All the hard work for the last several years has resulted in this opportunity to celebrate with your immediate, as well as extended family. No doubt many are coming from great distances to share your achievements. An opportunity this weekend to celebrate with your fellow students.  This will be a busy weekend with formal galas to attend as well as the many informal gatherings. A happy but also sad time as you realize that many of your friends are now going their separate ways and that day-to-day hanging about comes to an end.  New friends are about to enter your life as you continue your education or enter the work force.  Grad weekend has always been a time to let your hair down and party.  Do so in a safe manner. Make smart choices and look over each other.  Friends watch over friends. You all have cell phones. We parents want you to call if you need us at anytime. Enjoy the weekend, and all the best in your future endeavors. This is just one of many milestones in your life. We just want you to face those other milestones.

Posing with Rusty the Moose!

The staff at The Artym Gallery suggested last year that during Canada Day it would be nice for a member to be in red serge standing with Rusty the Moose. Detachment members will be down at the beach. I will be at Artym Gallery area approx 12:30- 2 p.m.  If you have visitors from out-of-country who like to get their picture with a tall dark, handsome Mountie in red serge, Banff may be a better opportunity.

So you can understand!

From looking at the picture of the police boat we had in Salmon Arm, with the RCMP decal being so small and not the best looking of boats on the water, you can understand that from a distance you can’t identify this as a police boat. From a distance, wearing a brown short sleeve shirt, you can understand why I would not be clearly identified as a police officer.  So, you can understand why a young male on vacation with a boat full of other kids on board had no idea when he turned his back and pulled down his swim trunks to moon us as they sped by that he did so to police officers in a police boat.

So, you can also understand why, when I cranked the police boat around, with lights and siren, I had a big grin on my face. I turned to my partner and we planned our tactics; you be bad cop, I be worse mother (you get the picture).

You can understand the horror on the kids’ faces when we stopped the four boys and three girls in the offending boat. When we asked who the culprit was, one of the males thrust the guilty party hard enough forward that I thought he was going to fall into the water. As my partner was giving it to the guilty party, I got close enough into his face and gave him my best Clint Eastwood Dirty Harry look. Drilled a hole into him. Kid didn’t know who to keep looking at;  the officer who was lecturing him or the officer who looked like he was about to lose it on him.  My partner tagged me up and it was my turn. Long silence, long sheepish look, longer silence. Then I let the hammer drop knowing from my observation and looking over the boat, it was a “go ahead and make my day” type question that I knew he would fail. “I want to see seven life jackets now.” Their day on the water was short.

I’m sure you have all been there and can understand.

S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac

Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment

Article Share