The Carnduff RCMP continues to handle a variety of calls, in addition to those associated with COVID-19.
Sgt. Warner Ignatiuk with the detachment said that for the most part, it’s been business as usual. COVID pandemic has forced them to modify how they go about doing business, so that they avoid disruptions.
But they’re still out in their service area, making themselves available to the public and responding to calls for service, although with those adjustments.
In terms of the types of calls they have had, they have received some for property concerns, as well as suspicious persons and vehicles. The detachment has been trying to create more awareness among the public when it comes to suspicious activity.
“We’re encouraging people to make a concerted effort to report suspicious persons, vehicles or property. The way I go about looking at it is if something doesn’t look right, if it doesn’t smell right, then it probably isn’t right, and therefore it’s something you shouldn’t look past,” said Ignatiuk.
People should call the police and make officers aware of the situation.
“That goes to looking after yourself and your property, and at the same time, helping to maintain the integrity of your neighbours’ property and the community in general.”
When looking at their call and infraction totals for this year, he has seen a decrease in some violations, such as traffic violations, since there has been a decrease in the number of people on the roads. But the RCMP is still out there as much as in the past.
Since oil business has taken a hit, that has also affected the amount of traffic on the roads.
“The remaining motorists, for the most part, are abiding by the laws and the safety regulations.”
People in the detachment’s service area, which extends from east of Frobisher to the Manitoba border, and south to the U.S. border, have handled the pandemic-related restrictions well.
“We’ve had a couple of points where things have come up where we’ve been engaged to be more of an education focus rather than an enforcement focus, unless where necessary.”
During their patrols and in their observations of people, they have seen people who obey the guidelines from public health.
They have received calls for service regarding non-compliance, but they have also received calls seeking clarification on Public Health and Saskatchewan Health Authority recommendations.
“It was more from an educational point of view that we were providing a response,” he said.
The RCMP has not had to lay any charges either. There was a high-profile incident regarding a cruise night in Carievale in which people were seen in a gathering with more than 10 people, but no charges occurred.
The Carnduff RCMP detachment has five constables, as well Ignatiuk and a support staff person who takes calls and looks after the office. The detachment is fully staffed.
