RCMP Edit.docx 2

8/3/2019 RCMP Edit.docx 2

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RCMP:

West shore Detachment

Shaun Buchanan,Lucas Carvery,Jesse Gass, Tyler Milligan, Kirk Myler,

Crim 150, Camosun College

November 22, 2011


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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is Canadas national police force, and is

internationally recognized. In May of 1873, the parliament of Canada established a central police

force known as the Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP). However in 1896 the Prime Minister,

Sir Wilfred Laurier, decided to disband the force. The former force known as the N.W.M.P. went

through a transitional stage when they did contract policing in Alberta and Saskatchewan

between 1896 and 1919. However, these contracts did not last long due to the desire of these

provinces to create their own provincial police force. In 1919 Parliament decided to merge the

former NWMP with the Dominion Police (a federal force with jurisdiction in eastern Canada),

and in 1920 the RCMP was born, with its headquarters in Ottawa. After the 1920s the RCMP

returned to contract policing in several provinces. As the years went on, the RCMP grew larger

and larger, and by 1950 they assumed responsibility of provincial policing in Newfoundland and

absorbed the British Columbia provincial police. In the 1970s, the RCMP assumed

responsibility for airport policing, VIP security, and drug enforcement and in 1974 women were

first accepted as uniformed members of the RCMP.

The RCMP is divided into 13 divisions within Canada which are displayed as letters

rather than numbers. British Columbia comes under the E division and the E division is

broken down into four different districts: Southeast District, North District, Island District, and

Lower Mainland District, and within each of those four districts there are many detachments.

The West shore detachment is in the Island District, and is a perfect example of a well

functioning RCMP detachment. The West shore detachment has more than 70 dedicated

volunteers and 60 full time police officers, 20 of which are female officers and there is an

Aboriginal, Asian and African officer within this detachment. The average age of the officers at


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the West shore detachment is between 25 to 40 years of age. Many of these officers can speak

unique languages which include: Polish, Mandarin, French, and numerous other languages.

Within the West shore detachment there are several highly trained units used for different

circumstances. This includes a block watch program, major crime unit, street crime unit,

financial crimes unit, 2 dog units, 2 controlling traffic units, IRSU(Integrated Road Safety Unit)

and Forensic identification unit, regional crime unit, and a homicide unit which is integrated with

municipal police forces for extra man power.

There are many challenges and opportunities that come with working in the West shore

detachment. One of the main challenges is dealing with 5 different districts and communities in

the lower Vancouver Island area. Each district is unique, different, and difficult to make happy

all at the same time. A second issue within West shore detachment is manpower, and this can be

a problem on certain occasions. When an officer is sick or hurt they are not immediately

replaced, so the current officers have to deal and adapt with this problem to make daily

procedures and duties run smoothly. Despite these challenges there are also many opportunities

working within the West shore detachment. Some of these opportunities include travelling

internationally and nationally to work in a variety of specialized units which provide different

career opportunities for RCMP members.

Overall the communities within and around the West shore detachment are generally

happy with the service provided, and nearly 90% of the feedback they get back is positive. Most

community members feel safe and supported by the West shore detachment and rarely feel like

they are being mistreated. All in all the West shore detachment and the RCMP as a whole are

internationally recognized as the face of Canada for policing. The RCMP provide exceptional


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service when it comes to keeping people safe and protected, and are a prime catalyst in showing

why Canada is recognized for being one of the worlds most important international leaders in

justice.


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RCMP Edit.docx 2