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February 25, 2015 - 2:30 PM
KAMLOOPS – Prostitution in the city is at a plateau and the local RCMP detachment is taking the opportunity to move forward with initiatives to help connect with sex workers.
Supt. Brad Mueller says changes in policy and steps required to investigate prostitution cases created the need for an internal position to liase between officers, agencies and sex workers themselves.
“We wanted a person to be a liason, a kind-of touchpoint in regards to prostitution, and be able to liase with our partner agencies, such as Ask Wellness,” Mueller says. “We were doing that in the past, but we didn’t have one person responsible for it.”
Const. Amanda McIntyre has assumed the pilot project role, which started four months ago. Part of McIntyre’s role is to build relationships with people and to gather information to see if anything new comes to light. Her role will also focus on missing persons in Kamloops and will help assist on investigations.
“There are some outstanding cases that we have open investigations on,” Mueller notes.
OPEN CASES OF MISSING OR MURDERED WOMEN IN KAMLOOPS:
The remains of Samantha Paul, 26, were found near White Lake June 1, 2014. Paul went missing September, 2013. Police are considering foul play and the investigation into her death remains ongoing.
Police are still examining the cases of Cassandra Wilson, Sherri Lee Hiltz and Shana Labatte.
Wilson has been missing since April 6, 2012. Police, after exhausting all resources, have still not found her remains.
Hiltz’ beaten body was found in a North Shore neighbourhood backyard in April 2005. The homicide file remains open.
Labatte’s body was found in the Mission Flats area in March 2004. Police are still investigating her murder.
If you have any information regarding the women, please contact Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
To contact a reporter for this story, email gbrothen@infonews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015