A group of Sicamous residents are again calling for 24/7 policing, with council echoing that sentiment.
A letter and 93-signature petition, presented by Anita Lacquement at the April 9 Committee of the Whole meeting, expressed 鈥渇rustration with the increasing number of attempted break-ins and thefts that are occurring during the night.鈥�
鈥淚t is evident that these criminals are aware that Sicamous has no presence patrolling our town and streets between the hours of 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.,鈥� Lacquement said. 鈥淚t is also evident that the scoundrels committing these crimes, are not shied away by surveillance monitors and alarms that many homes in our community have been equipped with.鈥�
She went on to say the detachment currently has five patrol units and suggested, as a budget friendly solution, having one of those do a night shift or create a swing shift schedule.
When asked for comment, however, Sgt. Murray McNeil 鈥� who was not at the meeting 鈥� told the Observer the letter contained some misinformation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not accurate information. We haven鈥檛 seen an increase in thefts or break-ins... our hours are 7 to 2 a.m., not 1 a.m., and then there鈥檚 an on-call situation,鈥� he said, pointing out that an officer is always on duty.
McNeil added that he will compile some statistics to present to council during his quarterly report on May 14.
鈥淧lease know that we do support and appreciate the RCMP,鈥� Lacquement said in closing. 鈥淲e are looking to our mayor and council to provide the RCMP with more support and coverage so that Sicamous can have a 24/7 police presence.鈥�
Despite having discussed the issue with McNeil in the past, and without his input at the meeting, council supported the request but admitted it鈥檚 a process. Coun. Malcolm Makayev said he agreed 鈥渁 hundred per cent with what you鈥檙e saying,鈥� but added they have spoken with McNeil about it in the past.
鈥淗e says it鈥檚 a matter of resources,鈥� Makayev said. 鈥淏ut I think if more of the public comes forward... that it鈥檒l help our case for them to allocate more resources so they can have... something for presence in the evening.鈥�
Coun. Gord Bushell added that council is frustrated too, and have pursued the matter at the provincial level but haven鈥檛 yet made any progress.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been down this road with the ministry before, we advocate at UBCM [Union of B.C. Municipalities] every time... but unfortunately sometimes it falls on deaf ears,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd your letter with more signatures will help for sure.鈥�
As an update to that, however, Mayor Colleen Anderson said council met with the Solicitor General at last fall鈥檚 UBCM and she finally heard back from them last week.
鈥淚 have staff trying to set up a meeting right now with the B.C. RCMP service delivery unit, so they have heard us, they鈥檙e willing to sit down and chat with us, so that is great,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he district will of course have a conversation with Sgt. McNeil and make sure that he is aware of our concerns again.鈥�
