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Significant increase in detachment members expected
The lack of sufficient human resources has impacted every sector of society during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cranbrook RCMP Detachment commander S/Sgt. Barry Graham knows that all too well.
Addressing City of Cranbrook council April 25, S/Sgt. Graham provided a staffing update with positive news at the end.
“Several months back the detachment had no option but shift our specialized positions into general duty policing to maintain resources for emergency calls for service. Even with this support to our uniformed members, we were often at or below minimums in the middle of the biggest resource crisis the detachment has ever seen.
“Fortunately, Cranbrook detachment will see a significant increase in regular member resources over the coming months and anticipate 27 of our 31 frontline response positions will be operational by summer. This will allow us to return our specialized members to their proactive policing positions and finally fill the mental health liaison position which has been vacant since Cst. Stevenson’s retirement,” S/Sgt. Graham reported.
Officer numbers were as low as 14 in January.
S/Sgt Graham also provided four reports of detachment member bravery and gumption.
September 24, 2021 – Cst. Ryan Sillito and Cst. Matt Coxford
Two RCMP members risked their lives in grabbing a female who had intentions of jumping off the Wardner Bridge. The members were able to grab hold of her and get her over the railing before she was able to jump.
October 18, 2021 – Cpl. Greg Dolan and Cst. Ryan Sillito
RCMP were called to the East Kootenay Regional Hospital for a distraught female wanting to jump from the roof. Members attended and located the female. Just as she attempted to jump one member grabbed her to keep her from falling and the other member managed to grab him so he didn’t fall off.
March 25, 2022 – Cpl. John Tent and Cst. Mike Gilchrist
Members attended Moyie Lake for a report of two persons through the ice and unable to get out. Members attended and directed the resources to get the male and female out of the water. Members were instrumental in helping to save these two individuals who had been in the water for close to an hour.
March 29, 2022 – Cpl. Phil Sullivan
Cpl. Phil Sullivan led the charge in firefighting when a call came in to a fire that had gotten away from the homeowner. Cpl. Sullivan was able to contain the fire with the aid of shovels, a bulldozer, and years of experience
S/Sgt. Graham also reported that Sgt. Shayne Parker recently announced his retirement this forthcoming summer. He departs with 30 years of federal service, 21 of which was with the RCMP here in Cranbrook.
Two officers have moved on from the detachment while seven others are new.
Recently arrived: Cpl. John Budgell – General Duty; Cpl. Jamie Budgell – Indigenous Police Services (IPS); Cst. Chris Lavalley – Forensic Identification Services; Cst. Jay Pickering – General Duty; Cst. Dayton Proctor – General Duty; Cst. Sebastian Harder – General Duty; Cst. Karim Barsoum – General Duty.
Additionally, Community Policing Cst. Katie Forgeron celebrated her 25th anniversary with the RCMP on March 2.
“She abandoned all traditional fanfare to work a 12-hour night shift to ensure our minimum resources are met. Night shift members did treat her to cake nonetheless,” Graham said.
“We’re really happy with the staffing lately and the quality of the members coming in,” he added.
Mayor Lee Pratt noted, “I really like to hear the good news. That is awesome because the public tend to always, for lack of a better term, they beat up the members for what they haven’t done. But I think it shows what they can do.”
He also wished Sgt. Parker “good luck. I’m sorry to see him go.”
e-KNOW file photo
e-KNOW
