Community to begin fundraising for new rescue boat: Kaslo mayor
By Nelson Daily Editor
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily
The loss of the RCMP boat on Kootenay Lake in Kaslo could open the door to a community effort to replace it, says the village’s mayor.
Greg Lay said the notion of the community fundraising and purchasing a boat for Kaslo Search and Rescue to replace the RCMP boat that has resided in the village for several years is a very real possibility.
In late October RCMP reduced police presence on Kootenay Lake in the shore-side village of Kaslo. Because of issues of training and manning, the police boat is based in Silverton and it will be taken up to Kalso on an “as needed” basis.
At an emergency management meeting last week in Kaslo, the notion of fundraising for a boat — that could cost, when outfitted, around $50,000 — was heartily supported, Lay said.
“We needed a regulatory police presence on the lake before we have a Shushwap Lake incident,” he said.
If that happens, Mayor Lay will be going to Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment’s operations NCO, Staff Sgt. Dan Seibel, and asking him to police it with one member.
“I’m hoping, through all of these institutional barriers that surround us in attempts to be innovative and creative, we can work together on this,” he said.
“But would the RCMP be allowed to work with search and rescue in acquiring their participation, liability?”
The project could take three years, Lay admitted, but the goal is for search and rescue to get their own boat and be properly trained on the water.
Meanwhile, back in Silverton …
The RCMP boat in Kaslo was being underutilized and new federal legislation forced the RCMP to move it, said Staff Sgt. Dan Siebel.
When the RCMP’s services in the area were reviewed, it was found there hasn’t been the opportunity for the RCMP to get the most out of that vessel.
The RCMP used to be able to operate a boat as a single-manned vessel. However, it is now legislated on duty RCMP officers have to have two officers on the vessel when in operation.
“So when you look at responsibilities, first and foremost the first responder for an incident on the water is, and should be, search and rescue or a local agency like the fire department,” he said.
Kaslo only has three members and there are shifts where there is just one officer on duty.
“So it is just not feasible with the current regulations that an officer can drop what they are doing, be called out and jump in the boat to assist someone,” he said.
“If the RCMP are in a secondary role, which we are now, where if there is an incident that occurs on the water … we would work with the local fire department and search and rescue to coordinate that search and call in the respective support agencies.”
Silverton did not have a boat prior to this, said Sgt. Seibel, The intent was not to provide Silverton with a boat, or to take Kaslo’s away, but to have the boat in a central location available for all nine detachments in the area.
“It’s not being used to its capabilities because of the two-person patrol and the calls for service,” he said. “To move that vessel to a central location where we can get better use out of it and have it available for any major incident or occurrence it is our best option.”
The intent of the boat is not for patrols, but on an “as needed” basis, said Sgt. Seibel.
