RCMP in western Nunavut hub aim to keep crime down

Cambridge Bay’s hamlet council prepares to meet Oct. 13 in their new municipal chambers. From left to right: Pamela Gross, Joe Ohokanoak, Mayor Jeannie Ehaloak, Keith Lear Sr., and Sandy Gillis. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

RCMP Cst, Bart Leppan and Sgt. Jean-Guy Lalonde Oct. 13 at the new municipal office in Cambridge Bay, where they delivered the September activity report and discussed their plans with councillors. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

CAMBRIDGE BAY — Police had some positive news to share with Cambridge Bay’s hamlet councillors Oct. 13: crime was down in September from the previous month.

And, to keep those numbers down, the RCMP detachment said it plans to “humanize” police, by visiting schools and hosting more outreach activities, and working with high-risk youth and their families.

According to the monthly report delivered by Sgt. Jean-Guy Lalonde, Cambridge Bay/s RCMP detachment dealt with 167 calls in September — that’s much fewer than in August, when its members responded to 182 calls.

In September, there were also fewer criminal code complaints, fewer suicide attempts or threats, liquor act offences and assaults, and, when compared to September 2014, 30 fewer individuals ended up in RCMP cells.

“Crime has definitely gone down,” Lalonde said.

Police also told council about a new plan to lower crime in this western Nunavut community of 2,000 even more: The plan will see police reaching out to at-risk youth before they become habitual offenders.

Working with youth in the community will be a priority of the detachment, said Cst. Bart Leppan, who recently arrived in Cambridge Bay, where 22 of September’s calls to the RCMP involved mischief, usually involving youth.

Increasing social interactions between police and youth, such as through school visits or RCMP-hosted lunches and events, will play into the new effort, Leppan said.

“It’s harder to yell at police if they’re served you Kraft Dinner and hotdogs,” Leppan told the council.

At his last posting in Nova Scotia, RCMP members worked to identify high-risk youth. Then they approached their families and offered to assist them.

“They would say, ‘I can’t believe you’re willing to help,'” Leppan said.

The families would be invited to sit down with police and other concerned parties and discuss how to help the youth — outside the youth justice system.

The RCMP report came as hamlet councillors met Oct. 13 for the first time in their new chambers in the recently-finished $11-million municipal office, due to be officially opened next month.