Welcome to Your Kamloops!

Please Consider Supporting An Incredibly Important Program in Kamloops...

It was a tremendous honour to be asked by the good folks at Interior Community Services to participate in a really important fundraising effort. I've enrolled in a monthly donation program and am asking readers of YourKamloops.com if you will consider giving what you can - one time or monthly.

Over the past 18 months, the youth outreach workers in our community have assisted over 300 young people in accessing a whole range of services - housing, life skills, health care, and much more. The government funding for this program will run out in spring 2011 and I feel we can raise the requisite funds. We are looking to raise $100 000. Here is a short video and  PDFs you can download for more info:

Supporting Kamloops Youth Outreach Info Sheet ICS Pre-Authorized Debit - Donations Form 2010

The Document That Started the Current Parkade Debate in Kamloops...

The community debate on the proposed parkade in or on the edge of Riverside Park continues. Here is the powerpoint presentation from council workshop that sparked everything off publicly:

 

Workshop Handout 2010 Oct 26

Getting Inside RCMP Yves Lacasse's Headache...

I ran into Kamloops RCMP Inspector Yves Lacasse last night at the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce mixer. He was there specifically to help mark the new partnership between the RCMP and the Chamber on a new RCMP Alert and information hotline service.

Inspector Lacasse looked to me pretty much as I would have expected - tired and frazzled. When you have a difficult issue that gets you a lot of media attention, I know from a bit of experience, it can be incredibly uncomfortable. I remember walking downtown and wondering if every person I passed was thinking bad thoughts about me. The encouraging comments don't seem to stick as much as the reality (and worry) of the negative comments.

The national media attention about the recent incident in the RCMP cells has not surprised me but it has worried me a little. I've written a lot about the great work of our local detachment have done in reducing crime in our city and in working collaboratively with many community partners. Unfortunately, the detachment has had a bad string of recent high profile incidents. And these, it seems to me, threaten to overshadow all this incredible work over several years.

I am glad the RCMP has not buried this recent incident. The City of Kamloops has also taken immediate and transparent action. We all are waiting for the results of an investigation. The systemic problem is still that the RCMP is investigating itself.

I would suggest that it is probably important that local detachment leaders supress urges to be defensive and, instead, take the fact that these recent incidents are on the public record as a badge of honour. New RCMP members in Kamloops should know that our detachment does not tolerate behaviour that diminishes public confidence in our policing. It would be great if the local detachment could invite well regarded criminologists to visit, especially those with media profile - not to sell them on the detachment, but to welcome their informed feedback and input on what is working and what could be better.

Ultimately, the public should be able to understand what happened in these incidents and to have confidence that the Kamloops RCMP is taking any steps needed to improve practices. The public also should know what has been done well in each of the incidents.

Really Hard to Believe the RCMP Did Not Consult...

After all the growing pains coordinated efforts have been through, it is really hard to believe the RCMP did not consult with social agencies after arresting sex trade workers this past weekend. I am hoping there is some piece of information that did not get included in the article in the newspaper this morning.

I've been very supportive of the proactive efforts of our local detachment. Simply put, they have done an amazing job reducing crime in Kamloops and have been working cooperatively with other community safety partners.

I gotta wonder what happened here. New officer in charge of the arrests? Liason people on holiday?

Committed North Shore Volunteers Need Your Help...

I am a huge admirer of Tom Hammer, Shannon Hammer, and Betty Nelson. They have all played such significant roles in the health of North Kamloops. We shouldn't burn these people out. Kamloops This Week has the story here. I hope they will get some back up support.

The Militarization of City Bylaw Officers?

I've been hearing a few concerns about the "militarization" of the city hall's bylaws department. At the very least, there is some feeling that we should not be replacing the RCMP with bylaw's officers. Bylaw officers currently sport bullet proof (knife proof?) vests emblazoned with the words PEACE OFFICER - and I have heard they may carry handcuffs.

Are these overkill? Are they necessary to do the job in today's times? Are bylaw officers trained in arresting and handcuffing folks? Do Rambo looking bylaw officers unnecessarily scare people or send a message that is too strong?Question to research and ponder. 

Video: Kamloops RCMP Supt Jim Begley Explains Request for More Officers

As part of the 2010 Kamloops budget discussions, our outstanding local detachment has asked for 3 more officers. Councillor Nancy Bepple asks an excellent question of RCMP Supt Begley. Councillor Pat Wallace asks about transient criminals. City Manager Randy Diehl frames up the request in the first clip of the video:

Should We Increase the RCMP Budget in Kamloops?

I think the Kamloops RCMP has done incredible and amazing work in the last couple of years. The overall crime rate in Kamloops has plummeted. The detachment has been very proactive with targeting prolific offenders and has won international policing awards.

Now, success should perhaps spur more resources. And, in that sense, I am empathetic to the Supt Begley's request to add three more officers to the detachment.

But, I also wonder if there should not be some sort of "keeping the peace dividend" that should not come back to taxpayers. I mean, in an ideal world, we would fund many more police officers to police in a proactive, targeted manner. But, there obviously other budget items that need attention and city council wants to keep the tax rate down. Our crime rate has come down - does the community as a whole support spending more money, perhaps at the expense of other important budget requests, to try to bring it down further. Are we ever safe enough?

I thought Councillor Nancy Bepple asked a great question question to the Supt Begley, asking for some explanation for the added officers. The main explanation I heard was about added paperwork (may have missed something though). I am not sure if there is more paperwork burdens this year than there was in the past. 

I've got the video from the exchange. Just need to make it web ready and I will post it.

My Pick for 2009 Kamloops Story of the Year....

Let's go for a really good news story: the amazing success of the Kamloops RCMP in addressing crime in Kamloops in 2009. This has not just been about fighting crime, but it's also been about preventing it. The local detachment's increaasingly holistic prolific offender strategy has been very effective.

I really hope Supt Jim Begley and his people continue working to target the really bad activity and work with social agencies business associations, neighbourhood associations and others to address the rest.

Behind the Awarding of International Award to Kamloops RCMP...

Summary of my notes after Supt Jim Begley's Sept 1st presentation to City Council:

The Kamloops RCMP 2006 strategic planning process has yielded results. Crime is down significantly. The detachment now focuses on proactive policing, monitoring the most profilic offenders and even offering options for them to better their lives. In 2004/2005, calls per shift came in at 120. Now, calls per shift number 60. In 2006, 26% of cases resulted in jail time. In 2008, the percentage is now 45%. In recognition of this incredible performance, the International Association of Police Chiefs has awarded the Kamloops RCMP detachment the 2009 Cisco Community Policing Award for communities in the 50 000 to 100 000 population range. Watch for news on the new RCMP planning process coming soon.