(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

The City of Kamloops won't have bylaw officers anymore — they'll be called "community services officers" now that they are being equipped to deal with more social issues.

Over the next few months, the Bylaw Services Division will become the new Community Services Division which will focus on building partnerships with local agencies and authorities, according to the City's news release.

Community services officers will get more training to respond to a wider variety of community service calls in addition to animal control, parking services and nuisance property complaints.

“The new responsibilities for bylaw officers that were appointed by the province during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the need for increased training and community support,” said Byron McCorkell, Kamloops community and protective services director, in the press release. “This elevation from Bylaw Officer to Community Services Officer will result in officers better equipped in dealing with social issues, officers will be trained with advanced skills to investigate a variety of files, and their ability to offer solutions for files they investigate.”

This move is also a response to the 2019 Citizen Satisfaction Survey, which showed bylaw services as one of the most important city services in the view of residents, and a priority for improvement, the City said.

The new community services division’s mission statement will be "providing a safe and secure community by developing relationships, resolving situations, and being accountable through an honest, professional, and compassionate approach,” the City said.

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