New watch officers support heavy RCMP workload

The Kelowna RCMP has added four new watch support officer (WSO) positions to take some of the heavy workload off regular police officers.

The WSOs work within the Kelowna detachment, carrying a peace officer status. They are hired by the City of Kelowna with each watch (shift) assigned a WSO to work alongside the general duty officers and work closely with the watch commanders.

RCMP say the primary goal of the WSOs is to support the heavy workload of RCMP officers, as they are qualified to handle several issues that do not necessarily require a frontline member response.

“A WSO is eligible to receive calls from the public, assess the call and then determine an appropriate action. They can also retrieve and process exhibits, video surveillance, manage curfew checks and DNA. The program has provided relief to frontline officers to focus their efforts in a more proactive way,” a RCMP news release stated.

The WSO are trained to take calls that are less serious in nature when danger to a person is not imminent. That could include calls centered around lost property, particularly in the summer months when tourists are vacationing. When calls like that are received and frontline officers are busy with other priority calls, the WSO works with the patrol supervisors to determine if additional police action is required.

“The early engagement of the WSO’s allow for more timely response to these types of files and facilitates collaboration and strategic deployment of resources to ensure the best support to the entire community,” the news release added.

“The WSO’s have been become an integral component of our detachment’s frontline policing duties, as they have allowed our officers more time to focus on priorities such as community safety initiatives, property crime and proactive enforcement,” Watch Commander Brad Swecera said.

The WSO program also puts a priority on collecting closed-circuit TV footage that supports the gathering of evidence and identification of suspects. They can seize, or receive the footage, view it and assist with identification of the suspects within the video.

“The efficiency of this team has aided in the identification of repeat offenders and groups of individuals working together to commit property crimes,” Swecera stated.