An “increasing number” of RCMP officers are living in Gibsons and conducting patrols in Upper and Lower Gibsons at the beginning and end of their shifts, according to a report from the Sunshine Coast detachment commander.
The quarterly report to Gibsons council also notes there are two constable vacancies and one corporal watch commander was promoted so their replacement is to be named soon.
RCMP statistics show Gibsons saw nine violent crime files last quarter, from April to June. Four of those were common assaults, one was assault with a weapon.
In theft, there were three bike theft files, two business break and enter files and one residential break and enter.
Six fraud files, seven mischief to property and 11 shoplifting files were recorded.
There were 26 check well being files, eight missing persons and five domestic violence flags.
In traffic offences, three collisions resulted in non-fatal injuries and three collisions resulted in damage of over $10,000. There were nine impaired operation of a vehicle files.
Staff sergeant Jennifer Prunty noted year over year comparisons aren’t possible because the area recorded as “Gibsons” has changed.
On the Sunshine Coast in general, there has been an increase in total assaults noted Prunty, but it’s difficult to pinpoint the reason. They’re seeing an increase provincially, so she posits it may be a societal rather than policing question.
In more general Sunshine Coast reflections, the impaired investigation training traffic blitz, which resulted in 13 impaired driving charges in two days last month, was “eye-opening,” Prunty said. She noted that these took place in the “middle of the afternoon.”
There was lot of Facebook chatter questioning the timing of conducting impaired driving enforcement in the afternoon, said Prunty. “The reality is, unfortunately, there were a lot of people drinking and driving.”
