Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Friday, April 30, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The Tlicho region now has centralized RCMP services running out of Behchoko.

RCMP Sgt. Francis Cullen took control of the region in January as part of a pilot project to bring police services closer to the communities.

The RCMP are hoping that having police services centralized in the communities, they can develop a closer relationship with residents and deliver more consistent police services, said Cullen.

When a resident calls the RCMP they will have a face to put to that name. It makes for better communication between the police and the community, said Cullen.

Behchoko Chief Leon Lafferty said that so far it has been beneficial to have the same RCMP members around.

"It's good to see new faces in the communities," said Lafferty.

He noted that he had asked for the central services, as the Tlicho region was previously split, falling under Hay River and Yellowknife.

"We're one people, we all speak the same language. There was a big difference in how they dealt with us," said Lafferty about having officers come in from Yellowknife and Hay River.

Cullen now has eight RCMP personnel working directly in the regions out of Behchoko. He noted that it can be challenging having personnel to call on just 16 hours a day instead of 24. However, with officers living in the community, they are closer to what is going on.

Fortin said that means when someone calls for help there will be an increased level of familiarity between the officer and the caller.

This move is part of a larger reorganization of RCMP services in the NWT.

Previously, all of the NWT was under one central command. The territory has now been divided into a Northern and Southern region so the commanders can have a closer relationship with the communities.

RCMP Insp. Roch Fortin, previously Yellowknife Detachment Commander, has taken over the southern region, from the Tlicho area to the Alberta border.

Fortin said he hopes to apply his experience in Yellowknife to the communities, working closely with local detachment commanders.

"What we did in Yellowknife, the path we took, we'll take some bits and pieces," said Fortin. "Take the best practices of what was successful here and try it in different areas."

The Northern Command, which encompasses the Sahtu and Beaufort Delta regions, will be handled by Insp. Parker Kennedy.