Logan Lake Mayor Robin Smith (File Photo. Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Logan Lake RCMP

Logan Lake mayor fears ‘temporary’ redeployment could spell doom for local RCMP detachment

Jun 20, 2019 | 3:26 PM

LOGAN LAKE, B.C. — The mayor of Logan Lake is asking the RCMP for a public meeting in the community after learning of plans to decrease service to the local detachment.

RCMP officials spoke to Logan Lake council Wednesday, telling them local members will patrol part-time in Merritt this summer, with some Merritt members reciprocating.

“Obviously, that leaves the citizens of Logan Lake quite concerned about the future of the RCMP and the detachment and what that’s going to look like,” said Mayor Robin Smith. “We’re told at the moment that it’s going to be temporary, just through the summer. We’re hoping that that is the case and that it’s not going to become a long term solution.”

Smith says she worries that even the summer-long change could skew call numbers to make it appear Logan Lake doesn’t need the staffing it already has.

“If our members are spending time in Merritt, and they’re getting a call that is in Logan Lake, but they have higher priority calls in Merritt, then over time, it’s going to start to look like maybe our detachment up in Logan Lake isn’t as busy and isn’t in need of what we have here already in terms of resources,” said Smith.

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“It’s a concern for us because we want them to be present, we want them to be in the community, we want them to be preventative and not just reacting.”

It’s touted as a money-saving change, and comes as the Logan Lake detachment commander position has been vacant since February. During the interim, it has been filled by a Merritt Mountie.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about money. It’s all about the money and the funding and what resources are available,” said Smith. “They’re short on members, they have members that go off on leave or they’re away on holidays.”

About 100 people attended the RCMP presentation to council Wednesday. Smith says she hopes that will show the decision-makers within the force that Logan Lake values its three-member detachment.

She’s calling for police to hold a community consultation meeting in Logan Lake.

“I kind of worry that, if it proves to be a successful model in the short term, is that going to turn into a longer term thing.”

B.C. RCMP E-Division did not respond to CFJC Today‘s request for comment on the situation.