Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Pelly Bay (Jan 28/02) - Help, in the form of two new police officers, is on its way to Kuugaarjuk.

An overall shortage of police officers in the territory forced the one-officer station to shut its doors in July.

Beefing up the force Kimmirut one new officer Kuugaarjuk two new officers Grise Fiord two new officers Arviat one new officer Kugluktuk one new officer Cambridge Bay one new officer six additional officers will provide educational and vacation relief across the territory

Protective services during the closure were provided by Sam Inaksajak, the hamlet's community constable.

In the case of the two emergencies that occurred during the last seven months, officers from Cambridge Bay responded by flying the 600 kilometres on a Lear jet.

Sgt. Gary Peck of the Cambridge Bay detachment also said he and his colleagues conducted random, preventative patrols in Kuugaarjuk.

But the scramble to serve and protect is about to end. As soon as the new fiscal year dawns, two police officers will move to the Kitikmeot hamlet to offer their services.

As announced by Justice Minister Paul Okalik last year, the territorial government earmarked $3.5 million to hire 14 new officers in Nunavut's V Division.

That pleases Kuugaarjuk community members, some of whom stopped reporting petty crimes when the detachment closed last summer. "That's a byproduct of not having RCMP in town," said hamlet senior administrator Quinn Taggart.

"We suspect there's a lot of miscellaneous crime going on that's not being reported. People know there's no RCMP to deal with it and they know the community constable is only equipped to deal with certain things," he said.

Taggart said while people were pleased by the pending arrival of the new members, they were particularly happy that coverage would now be provided by two officers.

"I suspect it's because of the Seewald shooting. This is the way it goes," he said.

Const. Jurgen Seewald was shot to death in Cape Dorset last March while responding alone to a domestic disturbance.

Supt. Vern White said there would no longer be single-officer detachments in Nunavut.

"It's timely," said White. "For the health and safety of our officers, we have to have back up. All detachments will have a minimum of two officers."

White said the affected communities were extremely pleased and supportive of the police and the decision to add extra staff.

He said the announcement was especially well-received in Repulse Bay, a Kivalliq community that was policed by the member from Kugaaruk.

"It will be a very bright day for Repulse Bay when we open that detachment."