Increasing demand for Penticton police in third quarter

PENTICTON – Penticton RCMP detachment continues to see an increase in calls for service in the city and region.

Supt. Kevin Hewco presented the detachment’s third quarter activity in separate meetings to city council and Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board members this week.

The Penticton detachment responded to 5,593 calls for service during this year’s third quarter compared to 5,393 calls received during the same period in 2014, a four per cent increase.

There were 17 per cent more criminal code files during this year’s third quarter, at 1,483 cases compared to 1,268 in 2014.

Hewco noted a 59 per cent decrease in drug trafficking files compared to a year ago and a 62 per cent decrease in 24 hour suspensions. Immediate Roadside Prohibitions were down 45 per cent, but vehicle thefts climbed by 51 per cent. Other infractions that were up significantly over last year included mischief, up 56 per cent, and arson, up 47 per cent.

The detachment continued to enforce traffic laws on city streets and regional highways, laying 353 charges for motor vehicle infractions.

Of 214 collisions reported, 50 were injury accidents. There were two fatalities as a result of those collisions.

Impaired driving charges included 24, 90-day Immediate Roadside suspensions, two 24-hour suspensions for drug impairment, six 24-hour suspensions, two refusals to supply a breath sample and six criminal code charges.

Hewco identified the Sendero Canyon area as a location of concern after fielding a number of complaints from residents over increasing traffic, speeding, failure to stop at  intersections and large truck traffic. The detachment has increased monitoring, enforcement and education efforts in the area and conversations have been initiated with Penticton city staff to find solutions to the complaints.

The detachment’s jail held 11 fewer prisoners than during the same quarter a year ago, from 502 in 2014 to 491 this year.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.