Grand Forks RCMP said they have experienced a slight decline in calls for service during the second half of this summer.
According to a report released by Grand Forks Detachment Commander Sergeant Darryl Peppler, the town’s police force saw an 8% decline in calls compared to August of 2019.
“This August, officers attended to 359 different complaints with 246 in Grand Forks and 113 in Christina Lake,” said Sgt. Peppler. “In contrast to August of 2019, officers attended to 387 calls with 301 in Grand Forks and 86 out at the Lake.”
Sgt. Peppler noted the spike in calls from Christina Lake, which he associated with more proactive law enforcement the RCMP took on the lake this year.
“As for the type of calls that police are responding to. We continue to deal with a vast diversity of calls,” Sgt. Peppler added. “My officers continue to attend assault matters, thefts and other property crimes, motor vehicle matters, suspicious persons, disturbances and calls related to mental health, to name but just a few.”
Sgt. Peppler said the RCMP attended to 15% more calls for service last month compared to July of 2019.
It is also important to note that RCMP officers both locally and from coast to coast took on more responsibilities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Officers have had to acquaint themselves with the Federal Quarantine Act and the Provincial COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA),” said Sgt. Peppler. “While officers have attended COVID related calls, no violation tickets have been issued. The majority of calls are concerned citizens calling in seeing an American plate or concerns that people were not self-isolating properly after entering from the USA.”