The problems are numerous, the solutions not so easy to identify.
Chemainus residents have serious concerns with instances of crime and drug use in the community and expressed those views to North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment members on hand at the Chemainus Legion Hall last week during a town hall meeting organized by the Cowichan Community Policing Advisory Society.
“You’re the eyes and ears of the community, we, the police, want to hear from you,” said Insp. Chris Bear.
He was joined at the meeting by Staff Sergeant Chris Swain, Staff Sergeant Kurt Bosnell, Corporal Gregg Strom and Corporal Jean Gelderblom.
Bear unveiled a list of the provincial priorities, including: the opiod crisis and mental health; guns and gangs; violence in relationships and sex assaults; strengthening police relationships with First Nations and restorative justice.
Bear stressed he didn’t want the Chemainus session to simply be a complaint forum, but wanted people to focus on ideas for helping to alleviate the stress on the force and the community.
With an annual performance plan, “this is how we make things better for our community,” he said.
Certain subjects that have long been at the top of the list of priorities for Chemainus residents remain there.
The loss of a permanent police presence in Chemainus when the detachment closed in town is a concern.
“Are we ever going to get anybody back?” queried realtor Debbie Simmonds.
“I don’t have the answer to that,” said Bear.
“This day and age with cutbacks, it’s very expensive,” he added. “Policing is probably one of the most expensive items on your taxes now.”
Many in attendance live in the area of Cottonwood and Crozier Roads and brought to the attention of officers the increasing problematic nature of the neighbourhood, primarily due to drugs - and one home, in particular, has created tension and stress to other residents.
Jamie Stephen wondered if it would be effective, lawful and strategic to proactively visit the home and explain the anxiety of an otherwise respectful, peaceful neighbourhood.
Another woman said she’s probably called police half a dozen times about the neighbourhood issues that include motorcycles racing around at high speed.
The problem, Bear conceded, is how to address it because police resources are stretched and they can’t be around 24/7.
“They know what they can get away with,” added another resident of the area, Geoff Hopps. “I have phoned and phoned and given license plate numbers.”
Another resident suggested the perpetrators in the neighbourhood and elsewhere are fueled by an attitude that nothing will come of their actions.
“They know the law, there’s no question about that,” he said.
Among the other issues brought up was elder abuse and Bear suggested “in the Cowichan Valley there are a ton of resources.”
Later in the meeting, everyone split up into discussion groups with the officers to go over concerns in more detail.
There are many roadblocks to finding appropriate answers, including the chain of events leading from the police with charges to the legal system.
Carol-Ann Rolls, manager of Volunteer Programs and Services for the Cowichan Community Policing and Crime Prevention, suggested programs such as Block Watch need to figure more prominently in communities.
“We have to go back to the basic programs that don’t cost the community a lot of money, but make it safe for us to go out and participate,” she said.
