Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 24/02) - The decks are cleared to find out just how overworked Yellowknife's police are.

Following a winter in which RCMP Yellowknife detachment commander Terry Scott warned that his officers were burning out, a Regina-based audit team will be in Yellowknife by month's end.

"They'll be looking for any ways we can improve, or streamline our operations," said Scott.

However, Scott added that alcohol-related incidents continue to clog up police time, and police can't deal with that issue by themselves.

"We can be part of the solution, but we can't be the solution," said Scott.

Police announced in late February that, "the services enjoyed by the community cannot be maintained with the resources available to us."

To relieve the pressure, police said intoxicated persons calls would receive the lowest priority, "except where a person is passed out and in danger."

The popular Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) was also slated for the chopping block.

Following a public outcry, officials from the territorial Department of Justice met with police.

Following the meetings, Justice Minister Roger Allen announced in the legislative assembly that, "there will be no immediate changes to the level of policing provided in Yellowknife."

Department of Justice spokesperson Louise Dundas-Matthews said Monday that the department is "awaiting the outcome of (audit) results."

She added that the department is aware the audit is taking place, but does not want to get involved in "the day to day operations" of the police.

Scott said two of his new officers are currently looking at ways to deal with, "the high volume of alcohol related calls and how we can better deal with it."

Yellowknife currently has no residential alcohol treatment facilities. Scott said the community must get involved.

"We've got to come up with some ideas. We're not the social conscience of the community, but we live in this community," he said.

Scott's boss, RCMP "G" Division Superintendent Everett Summerfield, said he expected the audit to be complete by the summer's end.