Winter driving tips from Sgt. Marko

From the S/Sgt’s Desk –

Due to a number of recent accidents, a request was made by the media on some driving hints or precautions for winter driving. A great deal of the accidents that are happening on winter roads can be linked to driver experience or more so lack of experience and lack of proper equipment. First of all the speed limit indicated on the highway is the speed limit that should be used during perfect driving conditions. 90 km in a 90 zone may be too fast for the road conditions. Know your limitations and understand your experience. When a vehicle is going to come into your lane, drive accordingly. [Read more]

Columbia Valley RCMP incidents, Jan 1-Jan 10

Jan 1
Columbia Valley Detachment received a complaint of Break and Enter and theft in the 300 block of Bordon Street. A tv and kitchen table were stolen. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Detachment. [Read more]

Columbia Valley RCMP incidents, Dec 10-Dec 31

2009 Dec 10 2000 hrs

Columbia Valley Detachment attended a complaint of Break and Enter to a seasonal cabin on Ashton Rd in Spur Valley. A door was broken into and a number of small items such as movies were stolen. Nothing else reported stolen. [Read more]

Priorities, priorities, priorities

From the S/Sgt’s Desk –

As I stated in the past I would like to utilize the media to keep up some communication with the general public in the Valley.

How does the Detachment determine what its priorities and how do we then deal with these identified priorities? At home I know where my priorities come from — my wife, and at times my 19-year-old son, attempt to dictate what my priorities should be. My wife, I take seriously. My son’s priorities keep me in good humor. Actually often in stitches. [Read more]

Columbia Valley RCMP incidents, Nov 23-Dec 6

2009 Nov 29 2330 hrs

As a result of calling in two hoax bomb threats a 51 year old male from Invermere has been identified as the caller and the investigation is continuing with possible charges of public mischief. [Read more]

Columbia Valley RCMP incidents, Nov 14-22

2009 Nov 14 1400 – 1830 hrs

RCMP, conservation and Range Patrol teamed up to conduct roving and stationary patrols in the back country. In all 45-40 people were checked. They included hunters, anglers and others involved in back country activities.

The check resulted in one person charged with no drivers licence, one fail to display a decal on a snowmobile and three warned for vehicle defects. One firearm was seized when the person was unable to produce a Possession licence. This rifle was eventually returned when the person did come back to the detachment and produce the proper documents. One stolen vehicle was also recovered. [Read more]

Liberal coverup of stolen personal information?

BC Conservatives call for minister’s resignation over missing documents.

BC Conservative Party.

The BC Liberal government has just revealed that it knew about a very serious security breach involving allegedly stolen information from 1,400 British Columbians on income assistance, but did nothing to notify those people to protect their personal information.

It was the RCMP who found missing documents inside of a Victoria home of a government worker last April, and those documents were handed to the BC Liberals in May. Yet it was not until seven months later that the victims were informed. [Read more]

Restorative justice — a community solution to crime

From the S/Sgt’s Desk –

This week is Restorative Justice week. This ia also known as Alternative Measures. This last summer I put out a plea in the media looking for volunteers in the community that wish to be involved in this program. The end result is a number of people have come forward and as of last September completed their training.

We in law enforcement realize that in the majority of cases we come across incidents where charges can be laid, we are not dealing with hard core criminals or those that make a habit of crossing paths with the police on criminal matters. Youths as well as adults will make bad decisions that have dire consequences. [Read more]

Invermere RCMP incidents, Nov 7-14

Between Oct 31 and Nov 6 a number of outdoor storage sheds were broken into at Indian Beach Estates. At the time of this report it is unknown what might have been stolen.

2009 Oct 20

Columbia Valley Detachment recieved a complaint of assault. As a result of the investigation a 52 year old female from Invermere is charged with assault, assault with a weapon in regards to the use of pepper spray used in the assault. [Read more]

Calling 911 — why put you on hold?

From the S/Sgt’s Desk –

911 — be part of the solution not part of the problem.

Ever call 911 because you had an emergency and the first thing that the operator says, “Is this an emergency or can you hold?” You tell them you can hold. Then you hold, and hold, and hold and finally out of frustration you hang up.

Now I will put you in the 911 operator’s shoes. She/he is stacked with a number of calls dealing with dispatching calls for the police to attend, while other police officers are calling in with requests. The operator picks up another 911 call and the caller wants to report a break and enter that must have happened while they were out. You are then requested to hold. Now it’s the 911 operators turn to be frustrated with people that don’t understand what the 911 system is all about. People will even dial 911 to ask the operator when the power will be restored! [Read more]