The RCMP force is being increasingly under-funded, staffed, and equipped according to the Federal Liberal Candidate for the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding.
Steve Powrie, says although officers have lots to say they are reluctant to come forward.
“A lot of the officers I’ve talked to have been off the record and they would never allow their names to stand because they signed an agreement that says they’ll be sanctioned or disciplined if they speak out.”
“The issues really don’t get dealt with and so there’s a lot of angst and there are some serious morale and satisfaction issues with RCMP members.”
Powrie says charges laid against the RCMP last week under the Canada Labour Code based on their failure to ensure the health and safety of its members, reflects these concerns.
He says some officers have told him about shifts that are so short of personnel that they could not mount an effective response to a critical situation, as well as a disengaging “do as I say” management model.
RCMP budgets have been slashed by as much as 20%, with $1.7 billion dollars in approved RCMP funding returned back to the Federal Treasury says Powrie who adds that it is disconcerting that while the Conservatives increase funding to fight terrorism, they are reducing funding to the policing that makes our communities safer.
Something going on in the Cariboo you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
