Compared to the first quarter of 2021, calls for service and crime within the Town of Comox are “looking pretty favourable,” according to the Comox Valley RCMP.
At the Oct. 20 council meeting, Staff Sgt. Troy Beauregard told council during a quarterly report the second quarter of the year - from July 1 to Sept. 30 - was average relative to previous years.
“There was a 14 per cent increase in calls for service … (but) overall there are good numbers there.”
Throughout the second quarter, there were three fewer traffic calls, four fewer break and enter calls and three fewer theft from vehicle calls compared to the previous quarter. While there were three fewer assault calls, Beauregard noted there were six more calls for sexual assault.
He added typically the RCMP sees an increase in calls for service throughout the summer months. Overall in the larger jurisdiction, police are seeing an overall increase to call for service, he added.
One struggle RCMP at the detachment are faced with are human resources, as some members are injured or sick or are taking maternity or paternity leave.
Coun. Maureen Swift inquired if - like their counterparts in the BC Ambulance Service - there are any challenges with police dispatch.
“With ambulance specifically, there are challenges there for sure,” replied Beauregard. “We’ve been doing our own in-house dispatching. We’re fortunate to have an operations centre in our building; there’s a really good relationship with them and a lot of local knowledge. We have a pretty good system here - I think the system is working well - and it works hand and glove with fire and ambulance dispatch and E-Comm (911). I don’t see a problem with it.”
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