File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

City Hall

With standing committees on pause, Kamloops council launches new group to examine community safety

May 9, 2023 | 6:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops council has voted to enact a select committee to help tackle crime-related issues in the city.

The Community Policing Select Committee will be populated by Councillors Kelly Hall, Dale Bass and Katie Neustaeter, with Councillor Stephen Karpuk as an alternate. The membership is identical to the Community and Protective Services Committee — one of the standing committees that had its membership shaken up by a since-rescinded proposal from Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, then paused as standing committee terms of reference are reviewed.

“We look at something like the use of illicit drugs in spaces within our community, then what do we do to move people into appropriate spaces? Well right now our CSO’s cant do that, and with the Peace Officer status they’d be able to do that.” Neustaeter Affirmed, detailing the committees purpose.

Neustaeter, who brought forward the motion for voting at Tuesday’s (May 9) regular meeting, said the committee will address “escalating criminal behaviour.”

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“We know that there is a significant gap right now between the RCMP that we would like to employ and the RCMP that are available to employ,” said Neustaeter. “The question becomes, ‘How do we fill that gap?'”

“We could use every tool in our tool belt and we can put more and more tools in there,” agreed Councillor Bill Sarai. “It can’t hurt. Moving forward, it will help our RCMP do their job, which isn’t what the CSOs (Community Services Officers) are doing right now.”

The motion passed by a 6-3 vote, with Mayor Hamer-Jackson and Councillors Dale Bass and Nancy Bepple opposing.

The committee is expected to discuss what would be required to transform the city’s CSO force into a team of trauma-informed peace officers. Hamer-Jackson argued the committee should include members of the public who have relevant expertise.

“I don’t know what this committee is going to be telling the police or how that’s going to move forward, but we’ve already got standing committees that are frozen right now that have the same goals — a safer community,” said Hamer-Jackson.

Neustaeter noted with standing committees on pause, this task force-style committee will get to work in the interim.

“I look forward to when we’re able to have [standing committees] again,” she said. “In the meantime, I don’t think our community’s safety can wait. I don’t think we can sit back on our laurels and say, ‘Let’s see when we’re able to get those going again.’ It happens now. We begin here.”

Bass and Bepple stated they would prefer to take a wait-and-see approach with the CSO program, which will help determine if current programs — such as teaming with outreach workers — are successful.