2 Terrace Review — Wednesday, August 7, 1991

More police for T

by Tod Strachan

Premier Rita Johnston says that
law enforcement in the province
will be getting a shot in the arm
"immediately". According to
Johnston, crime is up six percent
over last year with the greatest
increase being in property crime.
"There were approximately 20,000
more: property crimes in the prov-
ince last year than the year
earlier," says Johnston.

Also of public concem, she adds,
are gang related crimes and crimes
against children and the elderly.
"The most vulnerable members of
our society are under attack," says
Johnston, "and are asking for
help,".and, "We know people are
coming to victim assistance in

1

dramatically increasing numbers."

But there is a solution, she says,

more police. "In an effort to try .

and stem this disturbing rise in
crime," she’ stated in a July 24
press release, "we will immediately
increase the number of RCMP in

the province, add special prosecu-.

tion units, double the criminal
gang unit of the Coordinated Law
Enforcement Unit, recruiting, train-
ing and equipping 400 auxiliary
police, increasing police. visibility
through community-based police
programs and expanding victims
services."

With this said, she added, "There
will also be a review of the num-
ber of police officers serving the
province, and we will look at

errace?

expansion."

in our community, this is good
news. But it’s uncerlain when and

if there will be an increase’in:the. |"
of law ‘enforcement

number
officers in the Terrace area. RCMP
Inspector Larry Yeske says he
hasn’t heard anything yet. And
while the city complement of
police officers is close to what it
should be, given existing municipal
boundaries, the rural law enforce-

ment component is three members

short. Yeske says that every
RCMP detachment in the province
has been lobbying for an increased
number of police officers for a

-number of years.

~ Local crime complaints rising -

Crime is increasing in the Ter-
race. area according to recent
RCMP statistics. Last year, there
was. the largest-ever file load
increase. That volume of com-
plaints is up one percent over last
year. Unfortunately, there appears
to be a "continuing trend” of an
upsurge in complaints received at
the Terrace detachment, says In-
spector and Officer-in-Charge, L.E.
Yeske.

Among the numerous statistical
data: showing total complaints
received ending May, 1991 is
4,667 versus 4,616 for 1990, or a
one -percent increase. While this
may.not appear significant, when
viewed in the context of a rising
trend over the last year (the busiest
ever),. there is reason for concem,
says Inspector Yeske.

Other statistics show: alt types of
assaults, also known as personal
offenses, are up over 21 percent
over 1990. This statistic can be
misleading according to Inspector
Yeske, due to the majority of
common assaults being high. "This
statistic includes all types of
assaults in general, but common
assaults are up,” Yeske says. How-
ever, there is still too much of this
kind of crime occurring, he con-
tinued.

Property offenses such as break
and enter, vehicle and bike thefts
are approximately constant with
last year’s figures: with 401, 89
and seven complaints received,
respectively. However, a positive
decrease has been scen in
shoplifting, approximately 26
percent over 1990, According to

(herraceg

Inspector Yeske, there are several
reasons that he believes are re-
sponsible for this decrease. Store
owners are “taking a harder line"
with shoplifters; they are taking
preventative measures and are
saying to would-be shoplifters
"we've had enough". Inspector
Yeske further states that there has
been good success in the courts
regarding juvenile offenders. Many
of these juveniles have been
diverted from a life of crime with
the threat of a criminal record
hanging over them, Yeske main-
tains. .

Yet another factor in the decrease
in shoplifting has been the success

of the school program involving .
RCMP officers and local business.

people, he says. In this program,
owners ami managers of local
businesses visit Grade 6 and 7
classes to discuss the financial
losses due to theft.

"Enforcement begins at the
schools," the Inspector continues.
"We're trying to work more with
the schools."

On a negative note, Inspector

Yeske was “appalled” over the
number of impaired driving
offenses that were recorded on
New Year’s Day. There were far
more arrests for impaired driving
than any New Year’s Day in
recent memory, he stated.

"Some hardcore people can’t
seem to get the message. They
continue to operate motor vehicles

while intoxicated.” Yeske called it

"disgusting" that despite the pub-
licity campaign against drinking
and driving, people ignored others’

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and their own safety by driving
while under the influence.
Impaired driving offenses were 31
percent above 1990.

Proactive enforcement is the
primary reason for a drastic reduc-
tion in Liquor Act offenses, the
Inspector maintains. Although the
B.C. Liquor Act is relatively weak
in the powers it gives to police,
"we do what we can with the laws
that are in place". These types of
offenses include public intoxication
and under-age possession of alco-
hol. Yeske states that preventative
action by the police includes
ongoing surveillance and seizure of
alcohol to prevent other related
offenses.

The Inspector stiessed the con-
cept of community involvement
and awareness in policing the

Terrace area. People should be

aware of daily happenings in their
neighbourhoods, and citizens

should be in contact with the |

police if any unusual behaviour is
noticed — "Please, give us a call."

If you don’t know
what’s going on,
things go on
without you.

read the
Terrace Review

Arlhieage a dans

For those concerned with crime.

ats

FIREFIGHTER Ron Rutherford manned the radio in the alrport
‘firehall's Emergency Coordinating Centre. Rutherford Is credited
with putting together the simulated disaster scenario which put all

appropriate emergency agencies to the test and helped pinpoint
areas where improvements could be made.

Simulated disaster

analyzed

Detailed analysis of the simulated .

disaster held at the Terrace-Kitimat
Airport on June 20 is now com-
plete and airport manager Darryl
Laurent. says, "There were no
surprises," and, "Overall, it went
reasonably well.

There were a few glitches,
though, but that was the primary
purpose of the exercise. To test the
system to see how well it would
work. There was the fact that no
ambulances showed up for the
exercise because they were busy

with a real emergency, for
example.
This was seen as a positive thing,

however. In a real emergency, it
could happen, says Laurent, and
the no-show forced rescuers to
improvise. Something they did
quite well. Peopie with a variety of

injuries were dealt with in a police
van and even in the back of a
pickup truck. -

Another problem uncovered by
the exercise was in communica-
tions. Different emergency services
use different frequencies and at
times that can create a serious
problem. This is an area where
emergency personnel will be doing
a little brain-storming, says Laur-
ent.

The simutated disaster was or-
ganized by airport firefighter Ron
Rutherford and involved airport
staff, five members of the Terrace
RCMP detachment, the Thomhill
Volunteer Fire department, Mills
Memorial Hospital, and 20 Air
Cadets who played very convinc-
ing roles as the crash victims. —

IMPROVING
YOUR ODDS
AGAINST
witat,, | CANADA'S
rounoarion or | ff] KILLER. .

acknowledgement card.

A thoughtful way to remember is with an In
Memoriam gift to the Heart and Stroke Founda-
tion of B.C. and Yukon. Please mail your donation
to the above address and include the name of the
deceased, your name and address, as well as the
name and address of the next-of-kin for an

Maggie Park
#209-4526 Park Ave.,
Terrace, B.C,

V8G IVI

638-1167

Rares

experience.

the September semester.

~ SOCIAL SERVICES TRAINING
PROGRAM

The College of New Caledonia is accepting applications
for the Social Services (Developmentally Disabled
Specialty). This certificate program prepares students to
work with mentally handicapped individuals in a variety of
settings. There are six courses and one practicum. . All
courses are in a distance education (correspondence)
format and can be combined with full-time employment.

Applicants who are not currently employed in this field
should have working experience with mentally
handicapped children or adults as a career goal.

‘The admission requirements are grade 12 graduation,
G.E.D. or mature student status with related work

For more information and registration package contact:
College of New Caledonia
Counselling Department 561-5818
or
Admissions and Registration 561-5800
As seats are limited, early regisration Is recommended.

No applications will be accepted after August 30, 1991 for

COLLEGE OF NEW CALEDONIA
\ 9330-22nd AVE, PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. V2N 1P8