Members of the Kelowna RCMP Youth Officers Program will be patrolling the streets this summer.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/RCMP
June 21, 2023 - 4:30 PM
Increased concerns about youth crime has led Kelowna RCMP to launch a Youth Officers Program this summer.
“Over the last several weeks in the Kelowna area there is a sense from the community that there has been an increase in crimes, sometimes violent, committed by youth,” states a Kelowna RMCP news release issued today, June 21.
“The RCMP is taking steps to ensure the safety of the public and has pledged to launch this program with the main goal to decrease the risk of property crime and increase the sense of safety in public spaces, particularly in both the downtown core and in Rutland.”
The officers, who worked with young people as Community Youth Safety Officers during the school year, will be out on the streets in areas like the Queensway bus loop, City Park, Stuart Park, Orchard Park Mall, Ben Lee Park, Lions Park, known party spots and public beaches.
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“The youth officers will have the time to build important relationships and trust among the youth as well as redirecting them on building a foundation in life towards where they want to see themselves,” the news release says.
“The program as a whole will allow these officers the valuable time to spend with the youth compared to a general duty officer who has an extremely busy schedule answering call after call for service.”
The officers will “not only deter criminal behaviour by a youth, but also get them connected with services that they need,” the news release says. “One other important role of this program is to educate youth on their responsibilities of being good community members and what are the consequences of their harmful actions.”
They will start foot and bike patrols in July.
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