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PEHDZEH KI/WRIGLEY - After years of actively pushing for it, the community of Wrigley will be receiving a stronger RCMP presence.

The RCMP has leased a house in the community that will be used as a patrol cabin, said Sgt. Ron Prangnell, the new RCMP detachment commander in Fort Simpson.

Sgt. Ron Prangnell, the new RCMP detachment commander in Fort Simpson, is making the establishment of a patrol cabin in Wrigley a priority. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The detachment has two positions, one for a corporal and one for a constable, which have been specifically assigned for the purpose of enhancing the policing of Wrigley, Prangnell said.

"I think it's a positive thing," he said.

The two officers will stay in the community for up to three days a week using the house as their base. The officers, however, won't live in Wrigley full time and will have to return to Fort Simpson to file their reports, said Prangnell.

There are no definite dates for when the enhanced service will start. The timing will depend on when the house can be furnished and when a radio tower can be set up to provide a line of communication, he said.

"It's one of my priorities to get the guys in there and working in Wrigley," said Prangnell.

Currently staff from Fort Simpson go to Wrigley when there's a call for service. They also do regular patrols in the community, he said. The new service won't limit the RCMP to just three days in the community a week.

"If there's an emergency in Wrigley we're going to go," he said.

Having a more permanent RCMP presence will be positive for the community, he said, because officers will be able to work on community policing initiatives such as visiting the school. Prangnell said he's interested in doing "more pro-active crime prevention" such as bringing the DARE program to Chief Julian Yendo school.

The whole detachment area, which includes Jean Marie River, will also benefit from the extra services for Wrigley, said Prangnell.

The detachment has five positions for constables and one for a sergeant. The addition of the two new positions means the pressure on the detachment is reduced because staff for Wrigley are no longer taken from the Fort Simpson resources, he said.

For now, acting Cpl. Cory Forsyth together with Const. Blaine Rawles have been assigned to Wrigley.

Chief Darcy E. Moses of the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation said he's pleased the RCMP is finally committing more resources to Wrigley.

"They really want to help us establish their detachment here," said Moses.

The officers will be able to work on crime prevention and issues like drunk driving, he said. When the winter road opens the community sees an influx of people who are driving under the influence of alcohol, said Moses. As a parent Moses said he worries about drunk driving in the community.

In addition to reducing crime, the RCMP presence has always been tied to a solution for the community's other long-standing concern - getting a permanent nurse.

The community has been continually pressing for RCMP positions because of statements made by staff from the Department of Health and Social Services, said Moses.

"They told us they're not going to put a nurse in the community unless we have RCMP in place," he said.

Moses said he was given this message soon after being elected as chief in February 2007.

Now that the RCMP are coming department officials have changed their stance

Moses said officials now say there isn't enough funding for a nursing position in Wrigley and that the community doesn't have a large enough population to warrant it. Moses said he's frustrated by these new responses after working so long to get the RCMP.

"I'm just getting tired of doing their legwork and running around," he said.

The community needs a nurse, said Moses. There are many infants and elders in the community and some families are leaving because there's no permanent nurse, he said.

Moses also points to the death of an elder in the community, which occurred over the holidays.

A death, he said, which could have been prevented if there'd been a nurse in Wrigley at the time.

Staff from Dehcho Health and Social Services weren't available to comment.