Contingent Of Auxiliary RCMP Officers Growing

By 250 News

By the end of next month, there will be an additional 12 Auxiliary RCMP officers in Prince George bringing the local contingent to a total of 31.

Superintendent Dahl Chambers' goal is to eventually have a full complement of 40.

Training NCO, Corporal Jim Dibbens, says the auxiliaries take part in 160-hours of training that covers everything from traffic control to basic law enforcement.  Dibbens says in return for the city's investment of approximately $1500.00, the volunteers commit to providing 320-hours of service over a two year period.

He says the program is a mutually-beneficial one.  For the RCMP,  "It kind of fills in the backlog when our members are pretty busy and there's things the public would like from us.  So the (auxiliary officers) can fill in those gaps for us and allow the members to do more criminal investigations."  Dibbens points out members of the auxiliary put in approximately 1,000 hours on foot patrols in the downtown core last year.

As far as benefits to the volunteer officers, the Corporal says many do it because they're community-oriented and it allows them to participate in improving the safety of Prince George.  He says, for others, it's a stepping stone into the force.

"I have one auxiliary presently who just left the program to join the force.  I have another auxiliary who was very interested in joining the force, who found doing this program, along with the job he has, satisfies him."

As far as safety concerns go, Dibbens says, "We try to minimize the dangers to them.  If we go to a complaint of spousal assault, or a big fight, or a weapons complaint, we leave the auxiliaries outside.  They're not armed.  They do have batons, they do have pepper spray and handcuffs -- that sort of thing -- but they're not armed.  So we have to use common sense."

He says the safety risks are explained very carefully to recruits.  "It comes with this job, it's an occupational hazard.  But, like I say, we do try to minimize it."

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