It's been awhile since my last rant and I just wanted to take a moment to bring readers up to speed on the progress in North Battleford's downtown core, or not, since then.
I would like to thank the RCMP for taking my words as seriously as they did and had foot patrols for about a grand total of three weeks after my letter ("A police presence would begin a cycle of respect," Oct. 10, 2012) was printed. Those duties were passed on to the "peace officers" about then and, honestly, I don't think any of those boys actually stepped out of their trucks to contribute to any peace keeping. The only thing they were looking for was chalk marks on tires, I'm sure.
In the months since my letter, the regular indulgers have come back to roost. They even have more, loud, obnoxious friends. And they now have extremely loud, vulgar girlfriends.They are not shy about bumming smokes or stopping complete strangers on the street and asking for money.
I've tried calling the proper authorities but, by the time the phone is answered, the said individuals are long gone. Again I plead to the RCMP to, not just be figureheads, but to actually do foot patrols every day or every other day. Do them at 8 a.m., 7 p.m., 3 a.m. or 2 p.m. whenever. And don't stop doing them. Get the rookies to do them, make it part of their initiation.
The day it's getting boring for on the beat is the day the RCMP actually accomplish something. The officers need to visible, they need to be part of the scenery. And don't stop doing them.
I will never complain about police presence in the downtown area. I will never think they're harassing me or any of the law abiding citizens who are trying to go about their daily lives in comfortable safety. And don't stop doing them.Anybody who complains is someone who feels intimidated by the same people who are there to protect you and are not the ones being physically and verbally threatened by the handful of irresponsible individuals who seem to think the sidewalks are their public domain.
I'm sick of seeing people, mostly seniors, stop, look away, cross the street in a state of fearful panic, and maybe glance my way with fearful eyes, silently saying, "What happened to our city?"
My keyboard is now screwing up on me, I'm hitting it so hard. I think I've gotten my point across don't stop doing them.
Lloyd Cadrain
North Battleford
