The RCMP's vacancy rates are at crisis levels. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says he has a strategy to make being a Mountie a more attractive career.
Then-RCMP Deputy Commissioner Mike Duheme addresses a news conference in Ottawa on July 3, 2020. Duheme, who replaced Brenda Lucki as commissioner, says his priority in the new job is to address the RCMP's anemic recruitment efforts.
The building has asbestos; an air purifier was churning away in a corner during a recent mid-July visit by RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme. The detachment's wooden cells have been condemned — they're used for storage now. Officers have to drive an hour without cell reception to a neighbouring detachment if they need to lock someone up.
Conversations between frontline officers and the commissioner were off the record but Duheme heard the same message from Mounties over and over: officers are exhausted and reinforcements can't arrive fast enough. Boosting recruitment is one of Duheme's main priorities. His success or failure may set the future course of Canada's storied national police service.
According to the latest figures, the RCMP is falling short of baseline staffing levels across Canada, leaving detachments shorthanded and possibly putting public safety at risk.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
St. Stephen, N.B. man arrested after allegedly threatening to burn neighbour's house downRCMP responded to a report that the man poured gasoline on a neighbour's property
Read more »
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs backs investigation of RCMP's 'paramilitary' anti-protest unitRCMP team responsible for policing Wet’suwet’an and Fairy Creek protests should be disbanded, chiefs say.
Read more »
Mackenzie RCMP incident where man died under investigationOn Tuesday August 15, Mackenzie RCMP received a call of a man at a pipeline site making threats towards the site workers. He reportedly had a rifle and ammunition in his vehicle.
Read more »
Body of missing Kwikwetlem First Nation councillor is foundStephanie Patterson was first reported missing to Coquitlam RCMP last Friday (Aug. 11).
Read more »
RCMP arrest man after break-and-enter spree in Rocky View County, Alta.On Aug. 15, between the hours of 11 a.m., and 1:00 p.m., Cochrane RCMP responded to three break-and-enters. One man was arrested and police are seeking other suspects.
Read more »