A gate was damaged by thieves at RTR Performance, November 2021 (Image Credit: RTR Performance)

By James Peters

Two & Out

PETERS: Upping Kamloops RCMP complement no magic bullet to solve crime

Mar 18, 2022 | 10:34 AM

NO ONE SHOULD SEE Kamloops city council’s direction taken this week on policing as the end of this city’s law and order problems. There are a lot more avenues to pursue to even touch the issue.

Council gave its approval to a five-year strategic plan brought forward by Kamloops RCMP Superintendent Syd Lecky.

The most significant component of the plan is a five-member increase in staffing every year through 2027. Theoretically, that could bring the officer complement up to around 150.

That will certainly help the city keep up with its population growth.

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The types of crime that are frustrating Kamloopsians are largely of the property variety; violent crime is still generally isolated away from the general population.

Some of those committing property crime are doing it because they want to — but many are doing it because they have to.

They have to pay for their medication, whether prescribed or otherwise. They have to pay for their housing, if they have any. Everyone has expenses.

Even if there are 150 or 500 or 1,000 police officers, they can’t be everywhere at the same time and the city will still experience property crime.

And if we continue to travel down the same path we are, much of that RCMP resourcing will go toward responding to calls that really shouldn’t be police-related at all.

Much of the crime we see in our city is a symptom — not the illness itself.

It’s a symptom of untreated mental illness, addiction, poverty and homelessness.

Properly addressing those issues will have the net impact of reducing crime.

Investments in housing and complex care announced in the provincial budget may be a step in the right direction, though the government has been light on details.

Further efforts to combat the opioid crisis would put a damper on criminal activity as well, with the added bonus of saving people’s lives.

More resources for our local detachment are not a bad thing, but reducing crime in Kamloops will take a more concerted and balanced approach.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.