RCMP Safety Unit gets new officers

Six more officers have been assigned to the Kelowna RCMP Community Safety Unit.

The unit, known as the CSU, is a team with a mandate to perform high visibility uniformed patrols in the city’s public spaces, take enforcement action where appropriate to do so, and engage in fostering excellent working relationships with partner agencies and community stakeholders to work in collaboration to prevent crime.

The investment in resources, purposeful build, and restructuring of CSU at Kelowna detachment started several years ago to prevent crime in priority areas, while ensuring a sense of safety in all of our public spaces.

“Part of this restructuring has been the allocation of six additional positions in CSU. This brings the total number of officers dedicated to the CSU to 27. The Kelowna RCMP is pleased to announce that all six new positions are now filled, and the new officers are established in their roles in time for summer,” media relations officer, Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy said.

Command of the Community Safety Unit has been appointed to Staff Sergeant Hunter, who is responsible for a wide array of teams focused on social order issues, safety, and property crime. He oversees the foot and bike patrol teams, youth officers, the Police and Crisis Team (PACT), the Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), and Integrated Community Policing Team (ICP).

“These dedicated officers will be working closely with our partners, including the City of Kelowna, Interior Health, and the BC Prosecution Service, to address some of the multifaceted issues that face our community,” Supt. Kara Triance, officer in charge of the Kelowna RCMP, said “Our close working ties allow us to come together as a team to find long term solutions to the issues of public disorder, property crime, mental health, and substance abuse. Addressing these problems brings a sense of wellbeing back into our downtown area and allows of our community members to feel safe while enjoying our beautiful public spaces in Kelowna.”

“This is an exciting announcement for our city,” said Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran. “Six new officers is a substantial increase and we expect the enhanced police visibility and responsiveness they will bring to priority areas of the city will impact crime and sense of safety. Community safety is a priority for City Council as it is for all Kelowna residents. Council made the commitment to fund these new positions in the 2020 budgeting process and it is gratifying to be at the point now where those officers are in place and working to keep our community safe.”