The Estevan RCMP detachment is looking to expand its community presence by taking advantage of a pilot program in planting community constables into the service.
For those interested in a job in policing and who also have an intrinsic knowledge of Estevan and area, Sgt. Cate Rigaux wants to see you pursue the uniform.
Estevan's RCMP sergeant said she very much wants to see Estevan involved in the program, which will see six community constables placed around the province.
Anyone interested may contact the Estevan detachment at 306-637-4400 to leave information and get the ball rolling before attending depot in Regina in spring 2015 for the required 21 weeks of training.
Rigaux noted that upon graduation, the community constables will be special constables who are armed and uniformed personnel.
"We expect them to have specific knowledge of the language, the culture and the history of the communities they are going to be serving in," said Rigaux. "That's why we ask that anybody who we're looking for in the Estevan area is from (the Estevan area)."
She said these special members will be in the schools as liaisons, visible as traffic officers and attending council meetings to hear concerns and feedback from citizens in different towns.
"They complement our existing members. They do not replace us. They'll provide investigative support when required, but their focus is going to be on crime prevention and reduction, and community engagement."
If there is a chronic issue in one of the towns or a crime spree, the community constable would be responsible for implementing a program to try to deal with the issue.
"They're going to help increase the RCMP's cultural competence and they'll strengthen the relationships, visibility, communication and continuity of services within the different communities that we police here."
Ideal candidates are people with knowledge of the Estevan area and have an interest in policing. Previous policing experience isn't a necessity, noted Rigaux. Good communication and relationship-building skills are also of high importance.
"This program is going to consist of special constable members, armed, informed peace officers."
Rigaux said each community constable will be employed for one year under the pilot program before it is assessed. She said if the pilot program is ultimately abandoned after that first year, the RCMP will try to find a position for the community constables elsewhere in the force, perhaps having interested people complete training to become constables.
"We're fighting hard to get one in Estevan," she said with a laugh. In order for that to happen, interest will need to be shown by someone from within the community looking to take on the role.
She said they have already had some interest.
Anyone interested may submit their name and information to the local detachment, where it will then be forwarded to the recruiter in Regina. That recruiter will then guide the potential constable through the necessary processes before the training next spring and there will be exams to complete before training can begin.
Rigaux added the position is a full-time one.
"They're special constable members, so they have 21 of the 25 or 26 weeks (training) that we receive."
She said the lower mainland of E Division in British Columbia has community liaison officers (CLOs), which is a similar type of role, but added this is the first she has heard of a program like this one.
"I think it would be a very valuable asset here. We have a large detachment area and quite a high file load. Any increase in resources we can dedicate specifically to high visibility, going into the schools, crime prevention, it would only benefit the communities around here."
