CARLYLE - Sgt. Dallyn Holmstrom is away on duty this week so I was “voluntold” that I would be writing the RCMP Report.
I have big shoes to fill because Sgt. Holmstrom’s reports have garnered him a pretty big fan base. (Don’t tell him that). Good thing I was given the following advice early in my career. “Don’t try to fill anyone’s shoes. Wear your own.”
My name is Jacqui and I’m one of three detachment services assistants (DSAs) at Carlyle detachment. My main responsibilities are call taking, dispatching and information management. I think the public would be surprised to see how many times a day the detachment phone rings.
When you call the detachment, chances are it will be me who answers the phone. We take emergency and non-emergency calls — everything from break-ins and assaults to false alarms and everything in between. We also field calls from various agencies including probation officers, lawyers and social workers.
Together with Tracey and Marie, the three DSAs have a combined total of 45 years of experience providing operational admin support to members of the public and our front line police officers. (I think some of the younger constables think I’ve been here since the days when we patrolled on horses).
When we’re fully staffed we have 10 general duty constables, two corporals and a staff sergeant, who is the detachment commander.
I just celebrated my 20th anniversary at the detachment. During that time I’ve had the privilege of working with more than 70 officers from across Canada.
It always amazes me how dedicated the officers and their families are. Many officers have to leave their families behind to move across the country while they train to be police officers at the RCMP Training Academy in Regina.
Adapting to a new career and new province can be a challenge. So much is new and different from back home.
I remember we had a call of a break-in where some tools were stolen from a doghouse. I relayed the call information to the officer, who happened to have just moved here from the East Coast. He was quite perplexed. As he was heading out the door to the call, he said he can’t understand why someone would keep so many tools in their dog’s house.
It was then that I realized that I should have clarified that a doghouse in Saskatchewan is more than likely part of a drilling rig, not a pet’s home.
But truly for me, what stands out the most about the officers at your detachment is the care and compassion they demonstrate every day during their interactions with the public we serve.
A few weeks ago I saw an officer sitting side by side in one of the jail cells with an individual he had just arrested. I heard the officer tell the person that he is concerned about him because the person he had just arrested had been making unsafe choices (which is how he ended up in jail). The officer didn’t have to take the time to sit and talk with that individual, but he did because he cares and wants to make a difference.
A few years ago a woman brought a cake to the office. On the cake she had inscribed “Congratulations Carlyle RCMP. It’s been 3 years since you put me in jail.” She told us that she decided to get sober after we arrested her the last time. She thanked the officers, knowing they were just doing their jobs. The officers were genuinely happy to see her success. This is what makes all the hard work pay off – making a difference in someone’s life.
As for the past week, officers responded to a shop break-in alarm. The investigation determined the owner’s dog inadvertently set off the alarm.
The RCMP received a complaint regarding a vehicle with a straight pipe exhaust. We patrolled but didn’t locate the vehicle that day. I’m confident, however, that soon that truck will likely have some red and blue lights in its rear view mirror.
One sure way to know spring has arrived is an increase in cabin break-in calls. This week we received a complaint advising of a cabin and shed break-in.
A warning was issued to a driver who was operating an unregistered vehicle. It was that driver’s lucky day, because it would have been a $580 ticket.
An even more expensive ticket is the one for $1,050 that was issued to an individual for giving alcohol to minors.
We received a call reporting an assault. When officers attended, each person said the other person was the one who committed the assault. One subject was arrested and stayed in jail until he sobered up. The other was released at the scene. Both were charged with assault and given paperwork to attend court.
We received a call from someone reporting they had an unwanted guest show up at their house. The caller said the subject of the complaint was intoxicated from drinking hand sanitizer. She said he was walking down the road and she was worried about his safety. Police attended and arrested the individual. He stayed in cells until sober.
A caller reported a suspicious person in their yard. The caller thought someone was trying to sneak into his yard because he turned his vehicle lights off. Officers spoke with the driver of the vehicle who said he shut his lights off because he was looking at the northern lights.
A ticket was issued to a woman who was giving her intoxicated boyfriend a ride home. Unfortunately, the woman didn’t have a driver’s licence. She was issued the ticket and had her vehicle towed.
A person attended the detachment and reported that his medication was stolen from his residence. He advised it could have been a number of people but he was not sure who stole the medication. The officer advised the pharmacy of this and told the person he needs to take better care of his medication.
A caller reported someone walked into her house and then left. She thought the caller was high on drugs. Police advised the caller to keep her doors locked. Police are following up with the incident.
The RCMP received a call from a utility company employee who was threatened by an angry customer. The subject of complaint approached the employee and asked him to do some unscheduled work. When the employee explained that the man would have to phone and book an appointment, the man got angry and said the company doors are always locked and he should just “shoot all of you.” Officers take threats very seriously and are continuing the investigation. The man may be charged with the Criminal Code offence of uttering threats.
A man reported a window at his house was broken. When police attended the homeowner said he had headphones on at the time the window was broken. He heard the window break but didn’t see who did it.
A woman phoned to report she and another person were walking down a road and a car approached them. Occupants of the vehicle threatened to fight them. The caller and her walking partner continued on their way unharmed. Police will be arresting the subject of complaint and charging him with uttering threats.
A grain truck was reported to be on fire. The caller needed a police file number for their insurance claim.
Police received a complaint regarding a guest who smashed a window at a hotel and injured himself. The hotel guest had already left the scene, but he is known to police, was later located by our intrepid officers and was arrested for Mischief. He was also transported to the hospital where a doctor treated the cuts on his arm he received from breaking the window.
Police were involved in a foot chase. While the officers were no doubt winded, their exertion paid off as it successfully enabled them to catch up to the fleeing subject and an arrest was made.
There were 13 speeding tickets issued. The Heaviest Foot Award goes to the driver who received a $200 ticket for going 26 kilometres over the posted speed limit.
Sgt. Holmstrom will be back in this space next week. I’ve enjoyed filling in, but I have a whole new appreciation for the amount of work he puts into his reports.
This article has been updated to correct division commander to detachment commander.
