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Kamloops RCMP

Council agrees to up officer complement at Kamloops RCMP detachment

Mar 15, 2022 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — The local RCMP detachment has Kamloops council’s okay to hire another five officers in 2023.

The Kamloops detachment has about 120 officers on the job at any given time, despite a budget for 129 in 2022. The difference is due largely to members off on leave — medical, parental or otherwise.

In a presentation to council Tuesday (Mar. 15), Supt. Syd Lecky said there are many factors putting stress on the current policing complement — including the ongoing opioid crisis.

“We’ve all seen and lived the effects of the opioid crisis which was just beginning in 2016 and 2017 when (former Kamloops RCMP Officer-in-Charge) Supt. (Brad) Mueller was here. We didn’t quite know what the impacts and effects of that would be and combined with homelessness and all of the other issues that we’re seeing before us today.”

“Over the last five years, our population has also increased significantly in Kamloops. You realize the pressure that puts not only on all infrastructure in the city but also policing resources likewise — combined with all these other factors.”

Council has adopted the detachment’s strategic plan, which calls for an additional five officers every year until 2027. While next year’s increase is now approved, future increases would come forward to council at budget time.

CFJC Today will delve deeper into the policing situation in Kamloops Wednesday.