The Estevan RCMP detachment is going through a phase of transition and is looking forward to some growth in the coming days. After the retirement of Sgt. Cate Rigaux, the detachment is preparing to hire a new sergeant, and reintroduce the rank of corporal into the force.
“We’re at the start of a transitional period. There are going to be some new people coming, and some people going between now and next year.” said Const. Chad Mehl. “We’re shuffling it up a bit, and then in three to five years, there’ll be another shuffle.”
The detachment is looking to hire a new sergeant to carry on where Rigaux has left off, after serving as sergeant for a year and a half. Local RCMP are also preparing to hire a corporal into their ranks. The mandate for a corporal will entail an intermediary role assisting the sergeant and constables, and will mark the return of the rank with the Estevan RCMP.
Additionally, in all this transition, there’s a new constable set to join the force. Const. Jason Dickie, who was a member of the Estevan RCMP for five years, has recently transferred to the Swift Current detachment. His successor will be starting in August.
In the interim, Mehl noted there are still four constables at the detatchment, and that Cpl. Keith Kosir of the Fillmore detachment is commuting to Estevan to assist in “keeping the detachment in Estevan running effectively.”
The need to shuffle things up and add a rank comes on the heel of what Mehl describes as “substantial growth” in the city, even in light of the downturn in energy industry activity in the area.
“It’s been recognized that we do need an extra body to stay on the ball and stay ahead of what’s coming, with respect to crime and population growth in Estevan,” said Mehl. “It’s an efficiency thing. (Having a corporal) will allow us to free up more resources to keep on top of other things.”
The new corporal will take some of the workload from the sergeant, and will serve as an intermediary between the higher administrative duties of the sergeant, and the boots-on-the-ground investigative duties of the constables, overseeing the activities of the latter.
Mehl describes a sergeant running a five-member detachment as a “jack of all trades,” working as a supervisor, working in an investigative capacity, and serving as the go-to contact for the detachment, local politicians, stakeholders and the general public.
The positions of corporal and sergeant are initially advertised internally, eventually broadening out to provincial and national levels. This is done to give members of the RCMP an opportunity for promotion or career growth within the organization.
“In the grand scheme of things, we’re trying to get people promoted first, rather than go nationally to hire,” said Mehl. “We also are looking to hire laterally, bringing in a sergeant from another spot. This process takes a little bit of time; certain protocols have to be followed in terms of fairness.”
