Residents may have noticed there were a few extra Mounties in Port Hardy last week.
The reason for their visit was to conduct a review of the local detachment, said Sgt. Annie Linteau, a spokesperson for the lower mainland district, with BC RCMP communications services.
“Every year we conduct management reviews throughout the province,” Linteau said, adding they go to about 30 detachments a year. “The purpose of these reviews is to identify best practices, as well as identify areas that are in need of improvement,” she said.
As part of the review, the team, consisting of about 10 people, looks at everything from communication, to quality of investigation, to finances, to external client satisfaction.
“Some of us are more involved in conducting interviews in the community, others are more involved in the administrative aspects of the detachment operations,” she said.
They spent four days in Port Hardy.
Once the review is complete, “our findings are brought forward to the detachment commander who then has to create an action plan to address the concerns,” she said.
“In this particular case, with the detachment commander being new, these reviews are a great opportunity to find out what is working well and what can be improved on so that we provide the best policing service for the community of Port Hardy,” Linteau said. (St. Sgt. Wes Olsen has taken over for St. Sgt. Gord Brownridge.)
“Our members live and work here and are part of this community and we want to ensure it is a safe place to work, play, and live for all residents, including them.”
The review will also go to E Division - BC RCMP Headquarters in Surrey and the Island District Commander in Victoria.