RCMP field 11,000 calls - down 500 from ‘06

By FRED DAVIES
News Reporter
September 21^st, 2007

The Oceanside RCMP gave an outline of the detachment's priorities and crime prevention strategies to Parksville's protective services committee Monday. Chief among the local force's concerns is increased education and enforcement in relation to traffic safety. "We want to start a dedicated traffic unit of three people,"said Sergeant Dennis O'Gorman. "It's probably the number one concern from the general public and I think it's high time." Improving safety on the local roads will mean vigorous steps to address the problem of drinking drivers, noted O'Gorman adding, "it just so happens the most technical files to investigate and prosecute are impaired driving." Other notable items in the quarterly report included: • On-staff, federal, drug enforcement personnel are assisting junior members in garnering search warrants and in the development of sources. • A proposed 10 per cent increase in the number of drug awareness classes offered to local youth. • A proposal to increase youth related alcohol enforcement to address an increase in property crimes. • An anticipated increase in the number of senior drivers workshops. • Extra summer policing shifts over 24 days led to 216 identified violations comprised of tickets, persons lodged in cells and/or liquor seizures. Many of the occurrences reportedly happened in the Parksville Community Park. • Eleven thousand calls were received at the Oceanside detachment, down about 500 calls from the same period last year. reporter@pqbnews.com


Original Source:
http://www.pqbnews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=50&cat=23&id=1069351&more=1