RCMP can't quantify what its boost in presence in downtown Yellowknife will look like

Yellowknife RCMP have vowed to increase their presence in the downtown core, but they can't say by how much.

"We cannot quantify police resources in a given area at a given time," RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Josh Seaward told NNSL Media. He explained that how police allocate their resources depends on factors like call volume.

Earlier this month, city council passed a resolution recommending RCMP increase their foot and bike patrols downtown. And on June 16, during a governance and priorities committee meeting, RCMP Insp. Kurtis Pillipow spoke to councillors about the local detachment's efforts. One issue they’re facing at the moment is reduced capacity, he noted.

“We are not fully staffed,” he said. "We do have some human resource pressures and will continue for the foreseeable future.”

Pillipow added that there are more police officers coming to work in Yellowknife. He did not give a timeline of when these individuals would be arriving, however, nor how many there would be.

Later asked for additional detail about that statement, Seaward told NNSL Media that there are "at least five regular members incoming at the moment." 

Seaward explained police can't give a firm timeline due to factors like housing, movers, and family needs. He did, however, say that the figure is expected to rise later in the year.

"We are also in the process of hiring more public servants," he added.

Pillipow also listed the RCMP's top three priorities right now, which were met with approval by city council: crime reduction; reconciliation and community leadership engagement; and enhancing road safety.

For the first priority, Pillipow said the RCMP’s harm reduction efforts can range from street-level disruptions of people’s businesses and daily lives, up to more organized crimes like illicit drug trafficking. 

He added that police want to be efficient with their resources, and when it comes to more major crimes, their focus would be on gathering intelligence. 

Asked what harm reduction efforts look like, Seaward said RCMP takes a collaborative approach, though he did not provide any examples.

Seaward also told NNSL Media that more vehicle patrols will be part of the detachment's efforts to boost visibility and gave an impression of how soon people could start seeing a change. On June 21, RCMP and city bylaw will be taking part in a joint bicycle patrol as part of the detachment's efforts, according to Seaward.

Coun. Garrett Cochrane said he thinks police presence will act as a deterrent downtown. He also said he's pleased to hear police are working with bylaw officers.

"I think that should act as the kind of presence that we need,” he said.