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(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)

The Kelowna RCMP is ramping up its community safety unit just in time for summer. 

The safety unit has added six new officers to its team, which has a mandate to perform high visibility uniformed patrols in public spaces, take enforcement action where appropriate to do so, and fostering working relationships with partner agencies and community stakeholders to work in collaboration to prevent crime, according to the RCMP in a media release. 

This brings the total number of officers in the unit to 27.

“These dedicated officers will be working closely with our partners, including the City of Kelowna, Interior Health, and the B.C. Prosecution Service, to address some of the multifaceted issues that face our community,” Supt. Kara Triance, officer in charge of the Kelowna RCMP, said in the release.

“Our close working ties allow us to come together as a team to find long term solutions to the issues of public disorder, property crime, mental health, and substance abuse," she said. "Addressing these problems brings a sense of wellbeing back into our downtown area and allows of our community members to feel safe while enjoying our beautiful public spaces in Kelowna.”

The investment in resources and restructuring of the unit at the Kelowna detachment started several years ago to prevent crime in priority areas, while ensuring a sense of safety in all of our public spaces, RCMP said.

“This is an exciting announcement for our city,” Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran said in the release. “Six new officers is a substantial increase and we expect the enhanced police visibility and responsiveness they will bring to priority areas of the city will impact crime and sense of safety. Community safety is a priority for city council as it is for all Kelowna residents. Council made the commitment to fund these new positions in the 2020 budgeting process and it is gratifying to be at the point now where those officers are in place and working to keep our community safe.”

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