Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Jun 27/01) - Police in the Kivalliq region are so overworked they can't do their job effectively or safely, says the region's commanding officer.
Kivalliq region commanding officer Sgt. T.J. Kasdorf said last week that a huge jump in calls and the recent departure of two officers are straining his force to the breaking point.
"It is hard to meet obligations with the safety of officers in mind under the staff we have now," said Kasdorf, the only officer on duty during a mid-day interview with Kivalliq News last week.
Kasdorf said some officers are starting to feel the strain.
"We have a member who wants to quit because of burn-out," said Kasdorf.
The Kivalliq region is slated to maintain seven officers in Rankin Inlet.
They cover Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove and Repulse Bay as well. Coral Harbour has one officer, but when he goes on holidays the Rankin detachment covers the community.
Of the seven officers for the Kivalliq, one transferred in April and will be replaced in July. Another is scheduled to attend the Akitsiraq law program in the fall. And at any one time, two officers are on vacation, said Kasdorf.
That leaves three officers on duty a day, with one on a day off.
Kasdorf said calls in Rankin Inlet jumped 44 per cent and incarcerations 21 per cent over the last year.
Rankin Inlet saw a 24 per cent increase in calls.
Kasdorf said the department has 800 files so far this year. In previous years, the department saw around 1200 files. "The hamlet is growing," said Kasdorf.
Counting the three communities without officers, Kasdorf's division covers a population of around 4,000 people.
According to Nora Sanders, deputy minister of justice, the department is conducting a territory-wide review with the RCMP, re-evaluating its current officer distribution.
"We're looking at options and alternatives," said Sanders.
Sanders said the review is in its beginning stages and didn't know when it would be completed.
The Justice Department is using the same number of officers assigned by the old Northwest Territories government before separation.
The department covers 70 per cent of policing costs in the territory. The RCMP picks up the rest.
Kasdorf said the region needs 10 officers because of high turnover rates.
Chesterfield Inlet and Whale Cove have one community constable each, but they do not have the same powers as a full RCMP officer.
Kasdorf said the shortage also hampers his detachment's ability to visit schools and do more community work. "We never seem to get ahead," said Kasdorf.
