Concerns come out of cop consultation

Details

Published on Sunday, November 23, 2014

By Sheila Runions

      Banner Staff

Rivers Police Service hosted a public forum on Nov. 17 which was attended by 37 people who expressed a number of concerns. Advertised as open to Daly and Rivers residents, it was surprising to see only a handful of Chimo Beach-area residents, especially when one considers how many rural policing questions were raised at the candidates forum held last month during the election campaign.

It was also surprising to see only five of 14 councillors present, or four of the seven new Riverdale council members.

Chief Bruce Klassen provided a short report which announced the objective of the meeting: to share policing priorities which will be used to formulate a plan at increasing public satisfaction, build confidence and reduce crime and disorder by supporting victims and targeting offenders. He then introduced Rivers Police Board — chairperson Debbie Phythian, Bryan Smith and Glenna Beauchamp. Former Brandon Police Service member Richard Bruce facilitated the 70-minute discussion; at the hour mark he noted “47 of the 60 minutes have been on traffic issues, which is okay, it’s what we see every day.”

When it was mentioned how difficult it is to see oncoming traffic at the post office/Shelley Moms because of parked trucks, it was suggested by the public that police enforce not parking too close to that intersection. Another suggested “going back to the old days” and painting parking lines on the street; this man believes drivers no longer park at the proper angle. And on the topic of painting, it was mentioned how the double solid lines on First and Second Avenue are too faded and need to be repainted; the crowd was told this is not a police responsibility but rather Department of Highways as they are both provincial trunk roads. When it was confirmed the 400 to 600 blocks of Second Avenue are still a double solid line, there was mention of how many drivers park illegally (crossing the solid) and then back up the same way (illegally by crossing that solid line); someone suggested people are too lazy to park properly and then walk across the street. Illegal parking then brought a question about residential areas where vehicles are parked facing the wrong way (opposite the lane in which they drive)— this is not breaking the law. All these items were met with suggestions that police enforce the laws with tickets, with commenters stating if they were at fault, they would pay the fine.

“Children too young to drive” were mentioned as a concern in Chimo Beach; this person is afraid of hitting an ATV or snow machine because the youth have no regard for common road safety. They wondered who would be at fault if an accident occurred. Richard said “rules of the road” would apply and that “police don’t ascribe liability for accidents, that’s a discussion with your MPI adjustor.” He also said police need to provide “some kind of education with parents, then the children and then provide enforcement.” A former Valleyview Sno-riders member suggested a call to that group which regularly conducts safety programs at their meetings and in the past, had done presentations at the school. While helpful, Richard said that only targets the potential offenders, not the parents who allow them to drive the machines when they are too young.

This topic prompted another to mention the toboggan bowl in Rivers and their concern with “speeding” drivers on the nearby streets, snowmobilers driving in the bowl, snowboarders and at times, the human congestion. This resident admitted to “closing my curtains because it’s too scary to watch”; she suggested better lighting at the bowl and machines forbidden when kids are playing there.

Street lights in general were then identified as a safety issue; residents were reminded to visit the town website and file a report or to call the town office or Manitoba Hydro. Intermittent lighting does not mean motion sensor bulbs, that is merely an indication the bulb is burning out. If you report a dark area, don’t expect Hydro to replace it the next day; they come when it is cost effective for them (a number of bulbs to replace).

Police were thanked several times for walking the streets during the day but it was suggested they also foot patrol the back lanes and especially those without street lights.

An observant resident questioned why the school speed zone signs have been removed. Klassen said the signs were in violation of provincial law because Rivers has no bylaw for reduced speed near schools. “In my media release [to Rivers Banner in early September] we suggested a speed of 30 kilometres per hour and we have been diligent at Rivers Elementary School and we have found no drivers over that.” He was then advised to patrol the collegiate where student drivers likely travel faster. “My concern is the little ones because their attention span is so short; we do get to the high school, but it’s a little later.” Richard then added that “Rivers Police Service can only ask you to [travel that speed], they can’t make you. If you want them to [enforce a school speed zone], you have to make a bylaw.”

Speed on Hwy. 25 east and the illegal passing which occurs was also mentioned; a return to the former 80 kilometres per hour is preferred to the 100 which has been in place for many years. There are 14 approaches on both sides of the highway from town limits to one mile east, with plenty of entries and exits on those approaches. Impatient drivers were cited as a major problem on that mile and if they had to slow down less because they were driving slower in the first place, it might relieve some of the excessive tailgating or swerve-bys on the shoulders. It was also mentioned a reduced speed might mean less insurance costs; five years ago 32 deer were killed by cars in that one mile. Those deaths no doubt caused significant Autopac claims.

The suggestion of Autopac made one think of Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) so the checkstop program was questioned. Rivers has a contract with MPI (they are paid) to conduct six stops a year and Klassen admitted, “The frequency at which we had them was a bit excessive and that has been addressed.”

When questioned if Rivers Police had a “procedure to investigate scams” Richard replied, “Not really. You investigate it like a fraud, because it is. They are often inter-jurisdictional so are often difficult for police to do anything serious. The people who do these scams are very skilled at making it difficult for us.”

Several in the crowd were surprised to learn Klassen has been posting police statistics on the town’s facebook page; it was suggested he supply the same information for the newspaper. He agreed to reach non-computer users by submitting his reports to Rivers Banner. [To date in 2014 there have been 85 Highway Traffic Act charges laid, five assaults described as minor in nature, 21 mischief to property and 21 thefts.]

There has been “no feedback from Manitoba Justice” for the future of Rivers Police Service and RCMP service in Daly. Richard couldn’t answer whether or not more officers would be hired to police all of Riverdale. “It’s up to the new council to determine the size of area and services provided. We don’t know all the discussions that are currently taking place; your politicians will look after that.”

Klassen indicated his department has been working with some residents in violation of the derelict vehicle bylaw but that it is a long process with several warnings and letters sent, each with time frames to comply.

Richard and Bruce will now work with this list of priorities to formulate a policing plan for the next three years; the plan will be posted on the town’s website. It will be reviewed in another 24-36 months when the priorities will be revised. One resident said, “We should really be thinking of what we would like you to do for us in the next three years, right?” Klassen simply replied, “Yes.” A rural resident suggested the need to create a school zone bylaw as soon as possible, and to update the snowmobile bylaw to an off-road vehicle bylaw, in hopes that Rivers’ policing service will someday extend to Chimo Beach area; therefore, this bylaw would be in place to  deal with the issue of reckless children drivers there.