Expanding the use of the Car 60 program remains in the crosshairs of Prince George RCMP Superintendent Shaun Wright.
It sees Northern Health professionals ride along with police to assist with mental and emotional health calls.
During an interview with Vista Radio, Wright stated after discussions to beef up the initiative fell through in 2020, the RCMP has unveiled further resources to assist with mental health calls.
“We have also implemented the use of the Health I Am app here to supplement that program and also the North District RCMP is looking to work with Northern Health to have a psych nurse in our call centre to try and help intercede and funnel away some of those calls that previously would have brought about police attendance.”
From 2015 to 2019, Prince George saw a 120% increase in the number of mental-health-related calls.
Wright added RCMP detachments across the province including ours in Prince George are well-equipped to deal with online threats made on popular social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
He mentioned tools like the Real Time Intelligence Centre, which is something all of the police detachments in BC participate in.
“They would monitor social media and help assess those sorts of threats and communications. And then, within the RCMP, we have a unit behavioral sciences group that helps us assess the psychology and validity of those sorts of threats.”
Wright also took issue with a recommendation that the RCMP Depot located in Regina, Saskatchewan be phased out following a report made by the Nova Scotia Mass Shooting Commission.
He noted engaging those stakeholders is the proper first step to discussing whether the idea of reducing policing or reshaping how the RCMP is doing business is in the best interest of everyone.
“Really, if we are removing policing, then what agencies are going to take on those roles? I am more than happy to examine with stakeholders turning over responsibilities, in particular, the topic of mental health gets a lot of attention.”
Last April, an all-party committee recommended the government move to replace the RCMP with a provincial police force.
The government’s latest contract with the RCMP expires in 2032.
Wright stated in a May 2022 interview that a municipal police force in the city would cost an extra three million dollars per year.
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