Employee wellness, repeat offenders, and protecting youth from gang recruitment were some of the topics covered during the Nanaimo RCMP annual performance and priorities report during the May 6 regular council meeting. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

RCMP Priorities

‘We are seeing it in our elementary schools;’ Nanaimo RCMP break down priorities for 2024

May 8, 2024 | 4:21 PM

NANAIMO — Employee wellness, ongoing crime reduction and prevention strategies, and dealing with gang recruitment in schools were all concerns for local mounties.

Nanaimo RCMP’s annual performance plan and future priorities were presented during the Monday, May 6 council meeting by Insp. Andrew Burton.

Burton said they are seeing more evidence of members of organized crime groups attempting to recruit new members through local school systems.

“We’re seeing a recruiting effort and initiatives from organized crime in the high schools and sad to say we are seeing it in our elementary schools as well. I don’t want to say they’re smart but they recognize that the penalties for youth involvement in these types of crimes is less than as an adult.”

Burton said a promise of new clothing is often enough to entice youths to start selling items like vapes, cigarettes or even harder drugs.

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While he said it’s a “sad reality”, he was still surprised to hear it was also happening in elementary schools.

He said their dedicated school resource officers make weekly classroom presentations regarding these issues, saying the information is well-received by administrators, teachers, and students.

The Nanaimo RCMP also prioritizes its members’ mental and physical health, including non-officer staff and support service members.

“We’re looking at strategies to not only get our members back to work…but also to take steps to mitigate them going off in the first instance,” said Burton. “We’re often exposed to some very tragic and terrible things and it does take its toll on our members.’

He said they are currently looking to fill two roles in their Indigenous policing unit which works directly with local First Nations, spots which became vacant due to members being off.

Repeat Offender Initiative
Burton also spoke about the success of the Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative (ReVOII), announced in March of 2023, with at least 36 individuals identified under this program in January.

He said their ReVOII team completed 70 investigations in April alone.

“These included 31 downtown public disorder nuisance trespassing files, there were two public violence files, including the assault of a security guard and some robberies in residential areas. Five Controlled Drugs and Substances or drug statute Acts where we seized a vehicle and a significant amount of cash.”

A considerable amount of drugs and various were also confiscated, Burton added.

Weapons included brass knuckles used during an assault on a police officer, as well as bear spray, a loaded pistol, and various knives and club-like weapons.

Starting June 1, Nanaimo RCMP will launch a pilot project which will see four RCMP officers conducting foot patrols in “strategic hotspots” all around Nanaimo, working in tandem with the RCMP bike section, Community Safety Officers (CSOs) and bylaw to address community concerns.

“Community concerns [learned] through engagement with businesses, proactive policing, the targeting of repeat offenders through the ReVOII program, as well as working with stakeholders in community and health services to better assist our most vulnerable community members,” said Burton.

The City of Nanaimo recently looked at possibly expanding its CSO program outside of the downtown, with councillors expressing concerns about the cost.

Council directed staff to prepare a report with a full cost analysis to see if the plan is viable.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow