North Okanagan seeking volunteer RCMP recruits

VERNON – If you want to be a part of making your community a safer place, the RCMP is currently recruiting volunteers for programs with training starting in September.

City of Vernon crime prevention co-ordinator Regan Borisenko said interviews are currently taking place for the 10 positions in Vernon and six in Lumby, for the RCMP Volunteer Program.

Borisenko said while volunteers won't be chasing bad guys, he guarantees they won't be stuck behind a desk and will be out in the field acting as the "eyes and ears" for the RCMP.

"It is for those people who want to make where they live a safer place," Borisenko said.

The volunteer program has now been running for 30 years said Borisenko, and requires volunteers to dedicate 80 hours per year for volunteer work and commit to a minimum of two years. Borisenko said some volunteer dedicate hundreds of hours each year.

Operations conducted by RCMP volunteers include night patrols of the city, speed and distracted driving watch operations, foot patrols for special events, small vessel safety checks, disaster response and more.

"If we have that wildfire that everybody is expecting, we can be called out right away," he said.

Borisenko said while a lot of people volunteer prior to applying to be in the police force, a lot of volunteers just want to give something back to the community and do something exciting at the same time.

"They want to part of the solution of crime prevention in the city and not somebody who complains about it," Borisenko said. "They're going to be somebody who actually does something about it."

RCMP volunteers range from 19 to 79 years old, and must not have a criminal record. Interviews are currently taking place and training starts next month, running for five evenings Sept. 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18.

Anyone interested in the RCMP Volunteer program can contact Regan Borisenko at 250-550-7847 or email rborisenko@vernon.ca.

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