• A few years ago a couple of us tried to stop a young individual we knew to be operating a vehicle without a licence. The individual drove into their farm yard and hid. We spent a little time looking but could not find the individual. This was at most an operate without a valid licence which was a $150 fine. We found out later the individual hid in the garbage can. They may think they won the battle, but realistically it was a win for us. We stopped the offence from continuing and the accused hid for about a half hour in a garbage can.
• Why do I bring this up? Well, recently we had a Member assist Estevan Detachment in Lampman. They chased a youth that was drinking in public and they were not able to locate the youth. A few checks and a brief detainment of the wrong youth and the Members carried on with their duties.
• A few days later an off duty Member was at a ball game talking to a youth they knew from the previous ball season. A younger youth was there and the two youth began to talk. This younger youth was speaking of our gallant Members in a very derogatory manner. This related to the Mounties actions in Lampman. This continued while the off duty Member smiled and the other youth kept dropping hints by saying. “Some Mounties are cool” “Some Police Officers are well respected” After no less than a half dozen hints the derogatory youth continued by saying the youth that was chased, hid in a garbage can and called a friend to bring different clothing. The derogatory comments regarding the Police continued and the hints also continued. The only thing the other youth did not say or do was point and say “That is a Cop” Finally, after one last hint, a big one, the derogatory youth stopped talking and looked at the off duty Member and said in a stunned manner “Are you a poh poh Police Officer?” to which the Member replied “Yes I am” Surprisingly, the derogatory youth did not want to continue their conversation and they returned to the ball diamond where they probably should have been all along.
• We responded to a Cabin break and enter. No suspects. The owners are smart and do not leave liquor or valuables. It is unfortunate we have to live this way, but it is less expensive.
• Members are investigating the theft of a cattle gate. There is video that may assist us in the investigation.
• As always we get false alarms. Some are caused by animals, others by family or friends that can’t remember the alarm code, sometimes it is a glitch in the system, and other times the people themselves are the glitch and forgot to turn off the alarm, or don’t know how to use it. We have also been getting a lot of 911 calls, most are static, which means a computer glitch, however, others are individuals that are not paying attention to which buttons their fingers are hitting.
• It is always a good idea to wash your hands after you go to the washroom, however, if you do so and take off your jewelry, make sure you leave the washroom with it. The Police then get involved when the next occupant of the washroom chooses to take it and deny it. After some interviewing and pointing out the flaws in the accused story the watch was located in a ditch by our Members and returned to the owner who chose not to have the thief charged.
• An individual was charged for breaching their release conditions by not complying with their curfew. The individual was caught coming home by the Members. In the process the owner’s dog took offence and bit our Member. Apparently the dog does not like pork and released its hold on the Member. (For those that did not catch on we are often referred to as “pigs” thus we would therefore taste like pork)
• If you are from a small town and you think it wise to walk out of an establishment with items you never paid for, well, don’t be surprised if you get caught. Between the people who know who you are, or who you are in a relationship with, or hang around with we usually find our culprit. Add video and “Voila”, we have an identity. One individual is now facing charges of theft under $5000. If you are the thief come and see us before we find you.
• We continue to deal with calls relating to individuals that don’t get along and want us to watch and observe as they get their effects. We are just there to keep the peace, which, one would think is unnecessary but trust me, things go south quick. Now on that point, it is always wise to think before you do something. That said when you don’t think, the Police tend to get involved, then people tend to get arrested because once you stop thinking it is hard to start thinking again. Is it worth it? We, as Police Officers, are often surprised as to what people fight over. Sometimes there is value, however, paying a lawyer thousands of dollars to get a thousand dollar item is not worth it. Sometimes you have to take the high road and walk away. Otherwise you might be escorted away by the Police.
• Members wrote approximately 20 tickets and 25 warnings over the last week.
• Tickets were issued for no drivers licence - $150, no insurance - $580, fail to stop at stop sign - $230, fail to produce registration - $100, fail to move to right when approached by an emergency vehicle, - $125, fail to produce registration - $100, and fail to wear seatbelt - $175 and most expensive speeding ticket was for $308
• Warnings were issued for driving with undue care and attention, unregistered motor vehicle, liquor in a vehicle, speeding, unsecure load, obstructed licence plate, fail to produce registration, fail to have licence plate firmly secured, inadequate mirrors, inadequate headlamps and use licence plate on wrong vehicle,
• Inspection notices were issued for install front bumper, excessive damage to windshield, attach mudflaps/fenders, repair licence plate lights, repair muffler, and repair brake light.
