A shortage of staff resources is being blamed for the dwindling number of news releases coming from Battlefords RCMP lately. The issue came up at city council last Monday night during Insp. John Sutherland’s monthly report from Battlefords RCMP detachment.
Councillors Kelli Hawtin asked Sutherland about the recent lack of reports on crime instances to the public.
“It used to be daily and I presume it’s a resource issue,” said Hawtin. She wanted to see those daily reports revived.
Sutherland confirmed that, indeed, it was a resource issue at the detachment.
“Quite simply we just don’t have the capacity,” said Sutherland.
“I’d love to being doing it more, the community outreach team is trying to do it whenever they can.”
Sutherland also acknowledged he’d received inquiries from the News-Optimist about it as well, asking if the reports would start up again.
However Sutherland did indicate a willingness to try to address the situation, and said he was encouraging staff to “do as much as they can.”
In the days following the council meeting, there was a noticeable increase in news releases from Battlefords RCMP, with at least three RCMP news releases about crime instances in the Battlefords being sent out by Wednesday morning.
