Kamloops RCMP Supt. Brad Mueller
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
October 20, 2014 - 3:13 PM
KAMLOOPS – The local RCMP detachment currently has 112 boots on the ground, eight shy of 120 funded positions.
Kamloops RCMP Supt. Brad Mueller told the police committee in a City Hall quarterly meeting Monday morning that while there are some pressures on staff, it’s not out of the ordinary across the province.
“We are running a little bit short,” he said. “I’m hoping that this is not going be a long-term thing. I think it can be rectified.”
Mueller said the community is short because some transferring officers are unable to sell their homes. Scheduled retirements and administrative leaves, including medical leaves are also in the mix of reasons.
“I made a note to staffing at some point and time we’ll have to make a business decision in regards to (housing cases),” Mueller said.
To bolster the lack of personnel, Mueller said it’s costing the detachment overtime pay.
“That comes with a bit of a toll as well,” Mueller said. “We certainly want to make sure we keep our supervisory positions intact to mitigate any risk to the organization and to the city in that regard.”
Mayor Peter Milobar agreed that the City and the detachment should make sure officers are not “burning out” in order to fulfill staffing needs.
“We’re better off to have a fuller compliment, so it’s good to keep an eye on it,” Milobar said.
Mueller noted while Kamloops may be short there are other nearby communities with more troubling figures. Kelowna RCMP needs 22 officers by 2015 while the Surrey detachment is short nearly 50.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2014