Williams Lake Citizens on Patrol (COP) are looking for alternatives since their ability to use RCMP radios was taken away this summer.
“It’s been that way since July so now we are in the process of working through an alternative system until we can resolve this,” said Baldish ‘Bob’ Singh Sunner, leader of COP.
Sunner said COP used the RCMP radios for at least 20 years and the biggest advantage of having them was instantaneous communication with police.
“They could check in on us and find out where we were and if they needed something they could request our assistance, but the biggest advantage was if we saw something we could advise them immediately and there was zero delay in response.”
Williams Lake RCMP Staff Sgt. Brad McKinnon said the radio decision was at the national level and made several months back, as the use of police radios is restricted to police officers and detachment support staff. The RCMP need to ensure anyone with access to its radio system is properly security cleared, he said.
“To mitigate this, COP have direct access to the watch commander and watch clerk, who they can contact for more information.”
Steps are also being taken to assist COP in getting their own radios, one of which can be left at the detachment and monitored, he noted.
Originally COP had five RCMP radios, Sunner said.
“We would check in on the radio with the detachment and ask if they had any questions or if they wanted us to come in for a briefing or whatever.”
Communication was mainly done through the radios, he added.
When the RCMP radio system changed from analog to digital in 2013, then COP volunteers went into the detachment and borrowed one of the Tactical radios when doing patrols.
“We appreciate the sincere support of the RCMP towards community policing,” he said, adding the level of support has been nothing short of exceptional. “We totally understand that the radio decision came from higher levels of command.”
Sunner said COP could use more volunteers.
Anyone who is interested is encouraged to attend an open house on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at the community policing office, 327 Oliver Street.
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