Ewen pleased by policing progress

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This article was published 15/05/2019 (1812 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ritchot mayor Chris Ewen says better communication with St Pierre RCMP and fewer crime-related complaints from residents have prompted him to put consideration of a municipal police force on the backburner.

“I believe it’s totally improved,” Ewen told The Carillon.

Last week, Ritchot council was visited by St Pierre Staff Sgt. Marc Samson. Samson stepped into the detachment’s top role on April 8 after his predecessor, Rheal Gravel, retired.

“The residents are already a lot happier with the service,” Ewen said, referring to a period early last year when the detachment was temporarily without a staff sergeant while Gravel was away on an unspecified leave.

Ewen said he was impressed by how Samson quickly followed up on resident concerns relayed by council.

“Literally as soon as we told him that, he went and talked to those residents.”

According to Ewen, Samson said staffing levels in St Pierre will be back to full strength shortly. The detachment currently has 15 officers, Samson confirmed Tuesday.

Going forward, rural areas in Ritchot will receive renewed attention from law enforcement thanks to a Manitoba Public Insurance program that will see officers patrolling trails on ATVs.

A one-page statistical summary Samson shared with Ritchot council shows crime trends in the municipality vary by community. For instance, motor vehicle accidents in rural areas declined by 35 percent between the 2017 and 2018 reporting periods, but more accidents occurred last year in Ste Agathe and St Adolphe.

Provincial traffic offences nearly doubled in St Adolphe, to 37 from 20, but declined to five from 11 in Ile des Chenes.

Confirmed instances of mischief tripled in Ste Agathe, but fell sharply in Ile des Chenes.

St Adolphe, Ste Agathe, and Ile des Chenes all saw fewer break and enters, while Grande Pointe experienced more.

Ewen said he wasn’t surprised by the variations.

“Crime travels, and it comes in cycles.”

But the mayor said he’s noticed more police presence during weekly walks through Ritchot communities.

Ewen’s more supportive stance on policing represents a change from February 2018 when, frustrated by near-silence from the RCMP and a steady stream of property crime complaints from residents, he had openly entertained the idea of a municipal police force.

Ewen said he will not rule out that alternative entirely, but is content for now to monitor crime trends in Ritchot and neighbouring Niverville, where a “hybrid” policing model announced in February will see provincial community safety officers (CSOs) assist St Pierre RCMP.