CORNER BROOK Some staffing challenges over the past 15 months hasn’t hindered the policing ability of the Corner Brook detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Sgt. Terry Foster said while currently operating at it’s full contingent of seven constables, one sergeant and a detachment assistant, there have been some shortages similar to those faced by RCMP detachments around the country.
Foster said some members have been injured, while other’s have had illness.
Perhaps the biggest issue has been in the typical delays associated when a member is replaced after being transfered.
“It’s quite a process to transfer somebody,” Foster said.
“Sometimes the replacement doesn’t show up for a month later because people have to sell their houses. That’s just the way it is. There’s always short term vacancies here and there.”
A detachment which patrols 14 communities in the area, Foster said traffic enforcement has been an area where the occasional shortages have been felt the most. While his detachment has designated traffic duties, officers can sometimes be called away on short notice should a more serious issue arise.
“If a call comes in during (traffic duties), chances are the member is going to have to leave to respond to a more urgent call,” he said.
With this in mind, Foster said Traffic Services West routinely offer assistance and to help patrol communities in which traffic infractions are more of a concern than others.
While this helps, Foster said the public can also notify police should they see something dangerous happening on the roads. In many cases, charges can be filed and dangerous drivers can be further assessed for medical or public safety reasons without an officer having to witness the offence
“We can’t be everywhere all the time and people realize that’s a fact of life,” he said.
“I’m not sure whether the public understands that if they call in a complaint they see, we can lay charges based on their information alone.”
