The Estevan RCMP has had to handle some calls related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have had other calls in the community, too.
The detachment covers a vast area that includes Benson, Lampman, Torquay, Midale, Bienfait, North Portal, Frobisher and Roche Percee. They’re fully staffed right now, with Sgt. Jeff Clarke, Cpl. Craig Park and six constables, as well as a support person who works out of the office.
“In the last year and a half, we’ve had a turnover of five new constables … so lots of eager young blood to get out and learn the area,” said Park. “We had been doing some programs, before COVID happened, with our new guys, sending them out with some local farmers to learn the industry and learn the area, so some culture training there and they enjoyed that.”
People have handled the pandemic pretty well, although there has likely been a small increase in mental health-related calls.
“In general, people who have been forced to stay at home get a little on edge sometimes,” said Park. “But overall it hasn’t been too bad. People have been pretty co-operative. People are maintaining the rules that are put in place.”
It’s hard to tell if the detachment is busier than last year as far as call volumes, but he believes there are fewer people on the roads. There is the essential traffic that needs to be out there, but there are also who are bored and out for a drive, which he said is fine.
It means they have less traffic enforcement to worry about.
As far as criminal activity, they have still had to handle calls for drug activity, break and enters and thefts.
They will also have to learn about the changes to firearm laws, which means more education for the public.
“We’re trying to keep up like everybody else. We’ve had lots of changes in the last month here with gun laws, public health orders, and just like the public, it’s new to us, so we had to scramble to keep up here.”
As for COVID-19, there has been an impacted on day-to-day operations.
“As anybody approaching the building now would see, there’s a sign on our front door. We keep our front door locked, so anybody coming to the front door is required to phone in to our support staff here and answer a few questions, go through a bit of a screening process and go from there.”
There have also been changes in how they interact with the public, through minimizing contact and maintaining social distancing, even though it’s harder in their line of work.
The RCMP has also performed extra cleaning of their detachment building and vehicles.
“Our vehicles have probably never been so clean,” Park said.
There are also hearts on the exterior of the RCMP’s building. The person who handles the cleaning of the building put the hearts up as a tribute to the RCMP and those who are working at home.
The RCMP has also had to adapt to the new restrictions that came out, which can change quickly. They have received some calls about social distancing and self-isolation and other infractions, but they haven’t laid any charges.
“Most of those calls, we’ve just had to educate the public, and they’re good and they abide by the rules.”
If someone comes into the area who is supposed to self-isolate, then the RCMP will be notified and they will monitor the individual.
He believes that the way people have handled the pandemic is why the Estevan area hasn’t had any COVID-19 cases as of yet.
