Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds
City of Kamloops Budget

RCMP detachment upgrades and training facility submitted for Kamloops budget considerations

Jan 30, 2020 | 3:33 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops RCMP detachment on Battle Street is running out of room and the City is now looking into plans for reconfiguration.

The City is aware of the the detachment’s renovation needs, which include modifications to the front entrance, reconfiguration of the Identification Lab, and some changes to the cell block.

“Generally we’re just cramped,” said Kamloops RCMP Supt. Syd Lecky. “A building that was built to house, I believe somewhere between 100-to-110 people perhaps, we’re over 200 now. So, it doesn’t matter where you turn, we’re moving walls. They made fun of me when I got here, because they said, ‘Which walls are you going to move now?’ But, it’s not based on what I want to do, it’s really just based on the need.”

Another plan in the works for the Kamloops RCMP is a local training facility.

Officers currently travel to Chilliwack to receive training, spending hours on the road both ways.

“Just that in driving time is eight hours. You multiply that by 136 municipal police officers and it adds up pretty fast,” Lecky said. “So there is definitely some savings there and some other benefits of having it next to the [Kamloops Fire Rescue] training facility which already has classroom space, so there’s some economies of scale to be able to benefit from.”

Both the renovations of the RCMP detachment and the new training facility have been submitted to city council as budget considerations.