Mayor miffed at removal of RCMP boat in Kaslo
By Nelson Daily Editor
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily
An alleged move to reduce police presence on Kootenay Lake in the shore-side village of Kaslo is not sitting well with the municipality’s mayor.
Greg Lay said he was “disappointed” with the alleged decision by the region’s RCMP police force to reduce full-time operation of the police boat on expansive Kootenay Lake.
He said he was told that, because of issues of training and manning, the police boat would now be based in New Denver and it would taken up to Kalso periodically for policing efforts.
“Pulling the boat out of Kalso and us sharing the resources, I’m not happy about it,” he said.
If it happens, the move could be harbinger of the new way the nation’s police force delivers service in the province when the contract comes up for renewal in 2012. Currently, the province and the RCMP are reviewing the overall language of a new contract — one that would affect each community that uses the RCMP as its police, even those that don’t.
Nelson director John Dooley said the possible changes the RCMP are planning will even affect the City of Nelson, even though they have their own municipal police force.
He pointed to the situation in Summerland where a small community was required to provide a police station for the RCMP. Once a community hits a population of 5,000, it is responsible for 70 per cent of its policing costs and 100 per cent of the costs of providing a police station.
Summerland residents resoundingly voted to approve the money needed for a new RCMP detachment to be built in the community of 10,800 Tuesday.
The proposed RCMP facility, which is estimated to cost $5 million, would also involve borrowing up to $3.125 million. The current building failed to meet modern policing needs and in 2005 the cells were condemned and prisoners taken to cells in Penticton.
It was also determined needed repairs were worth more than costs of a new facility.
“And if you look at the age of the stations in places like Kalso or Salmo, as an example, they will be in similar situations,” said Dooley. “Those costs will be riding on the coattails of this regional district. I think it will be very important for us to be keeping an eye on those contract negotiations.”
The RCMP were unavailable for comment.
Stay tuned for more on this story.
