2021 has been a slightly busier year for the Prince George RCMP.
According to Superintendent Shaun Wright, the detachment has seen a 10% spike in call volumes on a year-over-year basis.
One of Wright’s biggest priorities was to improve relations with minority groups, especially the Indigenous community.
He told MyPGNow.com those efforts are trending in the right direction.
“I think we can always do better. I think we are getting into a place as we have staffed a full-time position for an Urban Indigenous Liaison with one of our constables and he’s been working the last couple months to reach out to a lot of the Indigenous organizations.”
Wright was also asked if he’s frustrated more offenders aren’t spending longer periods behind bars.
He noted the arrest is only one part of the equation.
“Some changes in the court system have really affected the amount of time some individuals spend in custody for more minor crimes. So, they are back out on the street in a much more timely fashion, and that might account for some of our increase in call volumes.”
“It’s obviously a little disheartening that sometimes before you are even done the paperwork that individual is back out on the street. Our job as police officers is to identify criminals and to forward charges to the crown council. Really, anything that happens beyond that is out of our hands.”
As for what’s on Wright’s wish list for 2022, a few more live bodies are at the very top.
“We are getting by alright but I am asking for four additional police officers come budget cycle so we will have discussions with city council and see what decisions they make.”
“The budget enhancement that city council provided us for additional overtime patrols to step up our enforcement downtown has made a difference. We can really focus those officers on the encampments and related problems as well as free up other patrol officers for more calls for service.”
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
