The Canora and Sturgis RCMP detachment invited the Sturgis community and surrounding area communities to a town-wide meeting held at the Sturgis Community Hall on May 16.
Members of the detachment who were in attendance discussing a variety of topics were: Corporal Dallyn Holmstrom, Constable Kari Pettinger and Constable Adam Huber.
Topics covered featured: new legislation and policies for drinking, cannabis and the Saskatchewan Crime Watch.
Holmstrom gave an overview on the detachment boundaries which extend to north of Usherville including the Porcupine Plain Forest; south of Ebenezer; east of Mikado and west of Invermay.
"We cover a large area, which can sometimes be frustrating for residents but we make every effort to be at all service calls as quickly as possible," said Holmstrom. "From January 2018 to January 2019 we received 2,500 calls; 1,300 service calls were received just from January 2019 to the present. We usually see nine calls on a daily basis.”
The RCMP members work as school liaisons, working with schools on safe lock down and hold and secure procedures through mock scenarios. They also work with schools on issues dealing with bullying, cyber bullying and impaired driving through social media awareness.
Holmstrom covered topics relating to community policing and the frustrations of government cutbacks. He commented on Mark Fisher’s role as a Commission Commanding Officer of the F Division.
Other topics featured focused on road safety, crime prevention, protecting your property guidelines, fraud prevention, Saskatchewan Cannabis Control Act and the new impaired driving laws.
Holmstrom spoke briefly about the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory program and encouraged individuals to sign up to help contribute to community safety “which is most effective if everyone works together to help prevent crime.”
At the conclusion of the meeting the members of the detachment fielded a few questions from the public that included road safety, the utilizing of conservation officers and some fraud questions.
