Penticton City Council’s decision to improve public safety and response capabilities by including additional funding for bylaw and police services in the 2022 budget is now complete with the arrival of all four new RCMP Officers, four new Community Safety Officers, one new Bylaw Enforcement Officer and one new Bylaw Intake Administrator.
“Council is pleased to hear these new members are now on board and carrying out their patrols,” said Penticton Mayor, John Vassilaki. “Community Safety remains our top priority as a Council and the funding we approved last November to add these additional members was led by public demand that more policing and bylaw calls be answered and responded to during peak hours, seven days a week.”
“The addition of the four new RCMP members will enhance the amount of proactive time our officers have which will increase our ability to target and hold our prolific offenders to account,” said Penticton’s RCMP Superintendent, Brian Hunter.
“The Bylaw Services Department has successfully recruited, hired and trained its new complement of members,” said the City’s Bylaw Services Manager, Tina Mercier. “With the hard work of our new team, we will be able to expand our hours and service to the community starting in May from 6 am – 11 pm, 7 days a week and have our office open Mon-Sat 9 am to 4 pm.”
In addition to providing funding for new RCMP and Bylaw members, Council also approved the now underway Community Safety Resource Review to identify long-term staffing level requirements across the City’s community safety portfolio, including RCMP, Bylaw Services and Fire.