Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Oct 07/05) - RCMP officers need to be more involved in the community and must have a better understanding of local people and issues.

There is also a need for more police presence in Wrigley and Jean Marie River.

Const. Jack Keefe responds to questions at a Community Consultative Group meeting at the Fort Simpson RCMP detachment, Sept. 29. Delegate Barb Tsetso is seen in the foreground while John Stevens is visible in the background. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Those were a few of the preliminary conclusions drawn during a free-wheeling Community Consultative Group discussion on policing on Sept. 29.

Cpl. Al Shepherd said the group was formed to give community members greater input into policing issues and to allow residents to set local law enforcement priorities.

About a dozen representatives of various agencies and political bodies showed up for last week's inaugural meeting.

Taxpayer Ken Lambert, who came without an invitation, contended that future meetings should be open to members of the general public.

He also made a case for cultural sensitivity training for police. Too many inexperienced RCMP members arrive in the NWT from the south with knowledge of the Criminal Code, but have neither operated a boat nor a snowmobile before, he said.

Many of them never dealt with aboriginal people or chronic alcoholics, Lambert added.

Force too small

On another front, nurse Kim Riles said her concern is over the lack of police officers in the communities around Fort Simpson.

When taking calls from someone distant who is facing a threat of violence, Riles said the best advice medical staff can usually offer is to lock one's self in the house and wait for the authorities to arrive.

She also expressed criticism of Yellowknife-based telephone dispatchers who decide what constitutes an emergency in the Deh Cho. Some messages left for the RCMP also get lost, she added.

Const. Jack Keefe acknowledged that aspects of the system whereby Deh Cho calls are relayed to the Yellowknife detachment stands to be "remedied."

Peter Shaw, a coroner and a representative of the Chamber of Commerce, said he's pleased with the level of police service in Fort Simpson.

However, he said it's unfortunate the RCMP detachment has been reduced to six members rather than a full complement of seven.

Being down one position can result in double shifts and limit other community-oriented activities such as coaching minor sports, Shaw noted.

Lambert countered that Fort Simpson remains "over policed" and "people's rights are being trampled on."

Pat Waugh, of the Legal Service Board, said she would prefer to see the Community Consultative Group focus on something positive, such as educating youth about the dangers of alcohol.

It was agreed that the group will meet on the last Thursday of each month.