CARLYLE - I was away last week to attend the South District commander meetings. These meetings take place once a year and give upper management in the RCMP a chance to provide direction to detachment commanders in the RCMP, while receiving feedback on the challenges that detachments are facing.
Some very good things are on the horizon for the RCMP, and I thought I would share a couple things with you. The first thing I wanted to share with you is that our members are going to be equipped with ATAK, which is a tracking program. Currently all of our members are tracked by the cars, but once they exit their vehicle it is very difficult to locate them if they are not able to answer their radio or cellphone.
This will allow members whereabouts to be tracked when they are dealing with a high-risk situation, which will assist with providing members sufficient support. Another significant change coming is that each and every RCMP member will soon be equipped with body cameras, to further assist both the public and RCMP members in getting a true representation of police and public interactions, and keep everyone accountable.
Shortages in the RCMP are going to continue to be a problem moving forward, as it doesn’t look like they are going to be improving in the short term. Currently the RCMP, along with most police forces across the country, are having a difficult time recruiting enough people to fill the rising vacancies created with people retiring or leaving their career in policing.
If you personally, or if you know someone who has always been curious about joining the RCMP, please reach out and get more knowledge. I will personally talk to anyone that would like to get more information.
One misconception that I will address right now is that the RCMP can send you anywhere in the country. Although this is true, I can tell you with 100 per cent certainty that if you are from Saskatchewan, you will be staying in Saskatchewan once you join the RCMP.
It’s okay not to be okay!
This week we had several drug-related overdoses and medical emergencies in the area. Some of the drug issues were a result of illicit recreational drugs while some were a result of improper use of prescribed drugs.
I want to ensure that if someone needs help the Suicide Prevention is always available in the paper for them. We want to encourage everyone to reach out for help and talk to someone if they can. No matter how bad things may seem, remember that they can always get better. Life can be very difficult to say the least.
Please reach out and check in with friends, co-workers, and family see how they are doing. It’s a perfectly normal question to ask people how they are doing. Don’t let people suffer in silence. If you see someone that you believe needs some help but won’t accept help from you, please let the police or their family know.
In Saskatchewan you can call/text the mental health crisis line at 2-1-1 Counselling Connect Saskatchewan or the Canadian Mental Health Association at 1-306-384-9333.
It was a busy week in traffic enforcement this week and both the Carlyle RCMP and traffic services were busy enforcing traffic laws. Twenty-nine tickets total were handed out last week, including eight inspection tickets for tinted windows.
One vehicle received its third window tint inspection in the past 18 months. So the owner of that vehicle paid to have window tint on it three times and each time it had to be removed. The highest fine of the week went to male who failed to slow to 60 kilometres per hour when passing an emergency vehicle with its lights activated.
The male was clocked at 106 km/h, which carried a fine of $753.
The Carlyle RCMP responded to nine wellbeing checks last week, with the majority of people concerned about a neighbour, friend or family members that were left without power during the most recent snowstorm. RCMP promptly attended the residences and alleviated the concerns of callers.
On April 26, the RCMP was dispatched to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Rhodes Street and Dr. Arthur Avenue in Redvers. The collision took place when a southbound Ford Escape proceeded into an intersection when it was unsafe and was struck by a westbound Ford F-150. Luckily no one was hurt during this collision but both vehicles needed to be towed from the scene.
That same day, the RCMP received a call from a concerned family member regarding a male being involved in using and selling drugs. The RCMP discussed the family member’s options and how to seek help for their family member.
On April 28, the RCMP arrested an intoxicated male on the White Bear First Nations that was knocking on house doors and causing a disturbance. After several failed attempts of trying to find a safe place for the intoxicated male to stay, he was lodged at the Carlyle RCMP Bed and Breakfast.
Also that day, the RCMP received a call of two intoxicated males on a grid road near Manor. The males were having difficulty walking straight and seemed to be looking for a ride. RCMP attended the area and unfortunately were unable to locate the intoxicated males as they must have received a ride from someone in the area. Too bad because there were open vacancies at the RCMP bed and breakfast and the Hungry Man meals are starting to pile up.
On April 29, RCMP were called to a residence where two intoxicated males were fighting at a residence. Although both males lived at the residence, RCMP were forced to remove one male that seemed to be causing the majority of the issues. The male was arrested and provided a nice warm place to stay at Carlyle RCMP’s Bed and Breakfast until he was sober.
That same day, RCMP were dispatched to a delivery driver that drove into a lamp post in the parking lot of Moose Mountain Lodge. The RCMP advised the Moose Mountain staff that the driver would be contacting them to make arrangements to have the lamp pole fixed.
Also on April 29, the RCMP attended a residence where an intoxicated female was causing problems. When members attended the female resisted arrest but was arrested and lodged in Carlyle with no incident and no injuries. The female spent the night with the RCMP and got a warm place to stay and a warm meal until she was sober.
The same day, RCMP attended another residence where two intoxicated males were having a verbal argument that the caller was scared would escalate into something violent. RCMP attended the residence and the situation had calmed down and police did not need to intervene.
On April 30, RCMP received a call from a teenage girl through 911, reporting that her parents were intoxicated and screaming at one another. RCMP attended and one of the parents had left the residence to cool down. RCMP were advised that the disturbance was only verbal and no violence took place. Police were no longer needed at the residence but residents at the house were told not to hesitate to call 911 again.
Also that day, RCMP received a call of a dangerous driver who almost ran over the caller on the road at White Bear. The car continued driving towards the White Bear Lake. RCMP made patrols but were unable to locate the car.
Also on April 30, RCMP received a complaint that a few young 13-year-old kids had stolen their grandpa’s green Ford F-150 and were driving around White Bear drinking. RCMP located the Ford F-150 parked at a residence. The youth were located and their parents were contacted and advised of the complaint. The parents attended and picked the kids up.
On May 1, RCMP were on patrol on Highway 9 north of Carlyle when they located a vehicle travelling over the speed limit. RCMP stopped the vehicle and determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The driver provided samples of his breath which confirmed he was intoxicated when he blew nearly double the legal limit. The driver’s vehicle was impounded for the offence.
