A group of Sicamous residents are again calling for 24/7 policing, with council echoing that sentiment. 

A letter and 93-signature petition, presented by Anita Lacquement at the April 9 Committee of the Whole meeting, expressed 乌鸦传媒渇rustration with the increasing number of attempted break-ins and thefts that are occurring during the night.乌鸦传媒� 

乌鸦传媒淚t is evident that these criminals are aware that Sicamous has no presence patrolling our town and streets between the hours of 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.,乌鸦传媒� Lacquement said. 乌鸦传媒淚t is also evident that the scoundrels committing these crimes, are not shied away by surveillance monitors and alarms that many homes in our community have been equipped with.乌鸦传媒�

She went on to say the detachment currently has five patrol units and suggested, as a budget friendly solution, having one of those do a night shift or create a swing shift schedule. 

When asked for comment, however, Sgt. Murray McNeil 乌鸦传媒� who was not at the meeting 乌鸦传媒� told the Observer the letter contained some misinformation.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 not accurate information. We haven乌鸦传媒檛 seen an increase in thefts or break-ins... our hours are 7 to 2 a.m., not 1 a.m., and then there乌鸦传媒檚 an on-call situation,乌鸦传媒� he said, pointing out that an officer is always on duty.

McNeil added that he will compile some statistics to present to council during his quarterly report on May 14.

乌鸦传媒淧lease know that we do support and appreciate the RCMP,乌鸦传媒� Lacquement said in closing. 乌鸦传媒淲e are looking to our mayor and council to provide the RCMP with more support and coverage so that Sicamous can have a 24/7 police presence.乌鸦传媒�

Despite having discussed the issue with McNeil in the past, and without his input at the meeting, council supported the request but admitted it乌鸦传媒檚 a process. Coun. Malcolm Makayev said he agreed 乌鸦传媒渁 hundred per cent with what you乌鸦传媒檙e saying,乌鸦传媒� but added they have spoken with McNeil about it in the past.

 乌鸦传媒淗e says it乌鸦传媒檚 a matter of resources,乌鸦传媒� Makayev said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut I think if more of the public comes forward... that it乌鸦传媒檒l help our case for them to allocate more resources so they can have... something for presence in the evening.乌鸦传媒�

Coun. Gord Bushell added that council is frustrated too, and have pursued the matter at the provincial level but haven乌鸦传媒檛 yet made any progress.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e been down this road with the ministry before, we advocate at UBCM [Union of B.C. Municipalities] every time... but unfortunately sometimes it falls on deaf ears,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淎nd your letter with more signatures will help for sure.乌鸦传媒�

As an update to that, however, Mayor Colleen Anderson said council met with the Solicitor General at last fall乌鸦传媒檚 UBCM and she finally heard back from them last week.

乌鸦传媒淚 have staff trying to set up a meeting right now with the B.C. RCMP service delivery unit, so they have heard us, they乌鸦传媒檙e willing to sit down and chat with us, so that is great,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭he district will of course have a conversation with Sgt. McNeil and make sure that he is aware of our concerns again.乌鸦传媒�