The following is from the March 29, 2022 council meeting with this report concerning the Community Protective Service Office
The enhanced training program for newly hired Community Services Officers (CSOs) was created and implemented. Online and classroom modules were designed to enhance the knowledge of all CSOs. This enhanced training created an opportunity to support the RCMP, KFR, and other outside agencies in delivering a 3 E’s (education, encourage, enforce) approach to any file. The goal is to educate; encourage compliance; and then, where required, use the enforcement tool appropriate to the situation. The graduation ceremony, which will take place in March 2022, will see 20 CSOs receiving a certificate of completion and becoming fully trained CSOs.
The restructure to Community Services led to amalgamating the cell block operations at the RCMP with bylaw services. The amalgamation provided an opportunity to enhance the service delivery, support the RCMP, and have CSOs work in both the both cells and the community. The CSOs have the ability to get to know individuals in the safe, protected environment of the cell block and then seeing those same individuals out in community. The amalgamation also supports hiring separate staff for both community and cell block by utilizing officers to be able to work in both locations, which supports fiscal responsibility.
The CSO model moved to a 24/7 operation to align with a safer and secure community, specifically in the Downtown and Tranquille business corridors. The 24/7 model also supports the reduction of overtime call-outs, which supports fiscal responsibility. • The CSO familiarization program was developed and implemented with a checklist of core expectations and competencies for each CSO. • Property use was incorporated into the CSO role by ensuring that all CSOs are knowledgeable in Zoning Bylaw and Building Bylaw requirements. • Community Services developed and implemented ways to assist property owners to reduce calls for service and to assist with maintaining the reduction in calls for service related to nuisance behaviour. This included multi-agency co-operation. A total of 31 properties have been given a nuisance designation.
RCMP DETACHMENT RENOVATIONS
In 2021, City staff submitted a supplemental update as it related to the need to address facility
issues within the Battle Street RCMP Detachment. Council approved $750,000 to be added to
the City’s supplemental budget to develop a detailed, phased expansion plan to address
workspace constraints and extend the life of the current detachment for another 20 plus years.
In 2021, the stakeholders were selected, project procurement was completed, and staff were currently moving forward with the integrated project delivery validation phase. This team of stakeholders will drive reliability and successfully deliver the project using a single contract for design and construction. The stakeholders will assist with design, cost development, and collaboration with RCMP.
BUSINESS WATCH
The Business Watch Program connected with 195 businesses and conducted 65 site assessments with accompanying CPTED reports. Relationships were built with the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association, the North Shore Business Improvement Association, and the Chamber of Commerce, which resulted in monthly crime prevention tips being shared with stakeholders.
Five businesses were provided with hostile/difficult client presentations in an effort to educate staff on how to handle unexpected situations.
Speeding is a major concern in the City. The Crime Prevention Unit worked with the RCMP' Traffic Section, ICBC, and the City’s Transportation Division to target high-risk areas. In 2021, 86,117 vehicles were checked, and 16 distracted driving operations and one “three strikes” operation took place, which resulted in 48 warning letters and 4 tickets being issued. Several pedestrian awareness campaigns were held where the public was educated about pedestrian safety and were given reflective zippers to wear.
The Lock Out Auto Crime and Safe for the Season campaigns provided public education on removing valuables from vehicles to deter theft. Hotels, shopping malls, and Thompson Rivers University were targeted and resulted in 6,483 cards being issued. Additionally, free Lock Out Auto Crime signage was provided to the hotels/motels in support of this initiative.
The Victim Services Program was absorbed into City operations and was relocated to the North Shore Community Policing Office. A new Victim Services Liaison was hired and began training in December. Staff and volunteers assisted 960 clients in 2021. 529 Garage decals were provided to the public free of charge while stolen bike hot sheets were developed and distributed to RCMP members on a weekly basis to assist with bike recovery. The team revamped the Stolen Auto Recovery and Crime Watch Programs in 2021 and is looking forward to launching them in 2022.
SOCIAL PLAN
The City and BC Housing are working on a new memorandum of understanding that will
identify a collaborative approach to support the planning, development, operations, and
communications for future shelter, supportive, and affordable housing projects.
The City is conducting a land use analysis to identify areas that may be suitable for future year-round shelter sites. The land use analysis includes a mapping exercise that uses location criteria linked to social and community planning principles.
The City will conduct community engagement on the shelter land use analysis and will also seek feedback from shelter users and people with a lived or living experience of homelessness.
The intent will be to have potential year-round shelter sites identified by fall 2022 with, at minimum, one new year-round site established by spring 2023.
The City will begin the process to review and update the 2009 Kamloops Social Plan. The planning process will include a review of best practices in social and community development, systems mapping of social assets and services in the community, and community engagement. Community engagement will include conversations on intersecting social topic areas, including affordable housing, homelessness, child care, accessibility, food security, mental health and substance use, diversity and inclusion, truth and reconciliation, gender and identity, poverty reduction, equitable neighbourhoods, and becoming a more resilient community.
The new Safe and Secure Kamloops structure will launch in 2022, focus on partnership and collaboration, and allow for targeted and focused discussion while also providing broad community representation. The new structure will focus conversations beyond street-level social issues to also encompass safety and security through a broader community lens.
"A “major expansion” of mental health and substance use services is en route for Kamloops, according to an announcement Tuesday morning from Interior Health and the provincial government.
IH said it is adding “17 new positions this spring” to expand supports in the city and surrounding area.
“People throughout the Kamloops area will benefit from this major expansion of mental health and substance-use services,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson said in a statement."
https://www.castanet.net/news/Kamloops/364308/IH-announces-major-expansion-of-Kamloops-mental-health-substance-use-services
With the phasing out of the mobile consumption site-injection site-does that mean addicts will be accessing the mental health facility for their injections? How will that impact the non-addict mental health patients?