RCMP: Pressure for emergency services reaches unprecedented level over long weekend

PENTICTON – RCMP said the pressure Boonstock put on emergency services over the long weekend was taken to unprecedented levels.

In a statement released Wednesday, Const. Kris Clark said the large number of overdoses and the death of a 24-year-old Alberta woman caused “alarm for the overwhelmed emergency and security operations”.

RCMP provided additional resources in the last two days of the festival in order to address increasing concerns and a gap left by private security, he said.

"Though we had a dedicated group of police officers assigned to the event, additional resources were called in to help deal with the demands," says Superintendent Kevin Hewco, Detachment Commander for the Penticton RCMP. "Public safety was our priority and, by working closely with the B.C. Ambulance Service and local Health Authority, we were able to create an effective team.”

Boonstock organizers arranged for 40 additional RCMP officers to work the festival weekend, which cost them around $224,000. The total policing costs have not yet been calculated, however, Clark said they are expected to far exceed the original estimates.

Police are putting together cost estimates and policing statistics from the weekend, including medical emergencies and criminal activity. They expect the report to be ready by the end of the week.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.