Supt. Kevin Kunetzki, district RCMP officer, South District Management Team, is pictured at a packed Armoury in Maple Creek before Wednesday's meeting.--ANG PHOTO MARCUS DAY
As many as 430 people defied bitter cold on Wednesday evening to attend a meeting on the future of policing in Maple Creek.
Concern was voiced about the idea of a super-hub policing model for the Swift Current region, perceived as a move towards centralization of services.
Fears included a diminished police presence in the Maple Creek area, a delayed response to incidents or complaints, the sending of wrong signals to criminals, and loss of tax dollars to the town.
Tina Cresswell, president of the Maple Creek Chamber of Commerce, said RCMP coverage is vital to a sustainable economy and vibrant business community.
Any plans to centralize police services out of Swift Current as a cost-saving initiative would have devastating consequences, she said.
“A centralized force would also pose an increased threat to the safety and security of our communities and the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in the summer, when up to 330,000 people visit over the high season.
“Rural crime is up in our area, and farmers and ranchers are already complaining about lack of response.
“It is ironic that this is happening now, when for the first time in several years the Maple Creek detachment is finally up to full force.”
The man behind the super-hub concept, Supt. Kevin Kunetzki, district officer for the South District Management Team, based in Regina, attempted to allay residents’ concerns.
He said no detachments would be closed in the region, officer presence would remain in communities served by the RCMP, and that options for a new deployment model would be designed to try to better meet local needs. Kunetzki rejected suggestions that the review was a cost-cutting exercise or driven by budgetary considerations.
The Armoury meeting was part of a public consultation process as the RCMP F Division, with the help of consulting firm MNP, reviews its deployment model for Swift Current (rural), Gravelbourg, Leader, Maple Creek, Morse, Ponteix and Shaunavon. Similar meetings have been held in other parts of southwest Saskatchewan.
While Supt. Kunetzki was the main speaker in Maple Creek, MNP representatives were also present, including Chad Lins, a partner from Winnipeg.
At the outset, Lins outlined the purpose of the review, saying the RCMP continually modified and developed deployment models to better serve communities across Canada based on information such as crime rates and calls for service, as well as technology advancements in telecommunications.
Lins pointed to five factors behind the review: changing demographics; RCMP policies and protocols; large geographic jurisdiction; changing forms of crime; and recruitment and retention of members.
He said a new deployment model may provide the RCMP with greater flexibility to manage staffing needs when planned and unforeseen absences arise.
Susan Burton, a retired nurse, said people in the area had already experienced more than enough centralization.
“We deserve to be protected,” she said, adding: “You have made this retired nurse very angry.”
Terri Mason had several suggestions for strengthening the RCMP, including the use of volunteers and creating a training camp in Maple Creek, while Paul Martens believed an auxiliary program with trained personnel was worth considering.
Tom Flanagan said residents in the community had learned to be very wary about any possibility of centralization or consolidation of services.
He advised those involved in the review: “You have to build the trust of people in this room. If you don’t, you won’t be successful.”
Supt. Kunetzki said public feedback would be taken on board before any decision was taken on a future deployment model. He pointed out the status quo remained an option.
