Cariboo-Chilcotin Crime Severity Index for 2021

Earlier this week -- Stats Canada (a branch of the Canadian Government) released the Crime Severity Numbers for 2021 (latest year available)... 

Here is the breakdown by local government... 

Wells - Data not available

Quesnel -- 

1) Municipal (municipal boundaries of the City of Quesnel) -- in 2021, the Crime Severity Index was 246.83,  this is down 6% from 2020 -- full breakdown here

2) Rural (Cariboo RD Areas A,B,C,I and a small portion of Cariboo RD Area D -- Marguerite/Macalister).  In 2021, the Crime Severity Index was 58.49, this is down 25.83% vs 2020 -- full breakdown here

Williams Lake -- 

1) Municipal (municipal boundaries of the City of Williams Lake) -- in 2021, the Crime Severity Index was 214.64, this is down 23.43% from 2020 -- full breakdown here

2) Rural (Cariboo RD Areas D (from Williams Lake boundary to overhead rail pass at Macalister and all of Cariboo RD Areas E/F)  In 2021, the Crime Severity Index was 76.58, this is up 1.79% vs 2020 -- full breakdown here

100 Mile House -- 

Applicable to the District of 100 Mile House boundaries as well as all of Cariboo RD Areas G,H,L).  in 2021, the Crime Severity Index was 103.50, this is up 50.44% vs 2020 -- full breakdown here

Crime Stats continue downward trend...

Courtesy of WL RCMP:

The latest figures are in and if you are a citizen in Williams Lake the news is good.

Statistics from the community show that crime rates are down by as much as 97 per cent since 2008 in some categories and police are citing the Prolific Offender Program as one of the main reasons for the drops.

“The Williams Lake RCMP is very pleased with the reduction in crime,” says Sgt. Richard Lebeuf, Williams Lake RCMP. “We have been aggressively targeting criminals in attempt to reduce crime in our area. Programs such as the Prolific Offender Program and numerous curfew and condition checks, conducted on known offenders, have had a definite impact.”

Since 2008 crime figures show:

Theft of Auto Over $5000 is down 91 per cent
Theft of Auto Under $5000 is down 96 per cent
Theft of Truck Over $5000 is down 97 per cent
Theft of Truck Under $5000 is down 90 per cent
Break and Enter residence is down 44 per cent
Break and Enter Business is down 71 per cent
Robbery is down 20 per cent
Mischief is down 34 per cent

“The police work collectively with Williams Lake Community Corrections to monitor court imposed conditions on offenders. The City of Williams Lake has been very supportive of our crime reduction concept and provides the necessary resources to allow us to meet our goals,” explains Sgt Lebeuf.

While the Williams Lake RMCP are happy with the results to date there is no intention of slowing down the Prolific Offender Program in the community.

“If you are conducting criminal activities in Williams Lake you will have the attention of the police and community members,” says Sgt. Lebeuf.

Abbotsford Police to look into allegations involving WL RCMP

From RCMP 'E' Division Communications:

The RCMP can confirm it has asked the Abbotsford Police Department to conduct an independent investigation into an incident on September 10th, 2011 involving a 17 year old female and RCMP members from Williams Lake. They will investigate both the allegation that the 17 year old female was assaulted by police, as well as the allegation that the female assaulted a police officer.

“Although Williams Lake detachment had already initiated an investigation by members from outside of Williams Lake, senior managers in the Division felt that, in order to ensure public confidence in the outcomes of the investigation, an independent police agency should be called in.” stated Sgt. Rob Vermeulen, spokesperson for the RCMP in BC.

As the Abbotsford Police Department is assuming the lead of this investigation, any further media inquiries should be directed to Cst. Ian MacDonald at 604-864-4721.

Provincial News Wrap - July 26th edition

In Williams Lake:

* Miss Canada International Anna Dell meets with the public, after her win - see here
* Local Provincial NDP Riding Assoc holds nomination meeting on Wednesday, July 27th at the Longhouse - meeting open to the public at 6:30pm - see here.  The meeting is to confirm Charlie Wyse as the NDP Candidate for Cariboo-Chilcotin in the next provincial election, whenever it comes
* Man assaulted in Boitanio Park on July 18th and RCMP asks for police help - see here
* Local 7-11 robbed on this past Saturday - see here
* Federal Environmental Assessment Office faces budget/staff cuts - see here
* Think-tank in Smithers, BC looks like Provncial/Federal Environmental Review Processes, as they relate to the failed Prosperity Mine bid - see here
* Total expenses for local MLA's in 2010-2011 Fiscal Year released - see here
* Columnist Diana French looks like crime issues - both at a local and international level - see here
* MLA Donna Barnett reviews her time at the "Alexis Creek Daze" - see here
* Lots of letters to the editor: one from myself on fluoride education (see here), one from Micheal Jones on crime and WL Mayor Kerry Cook (see here), and one from a previous Donna Barnett supporter on the HST and dishonesty (see here)

In Kamloops:

* Newly adopted Metro Vancouver Solid Waste Management Plan will be a body-blow to the Village of Cache Creek - see here
* Fight HST Lead Organizer for the current HST Referendum Chris Delainey expresses his confidence that the voters' of BC will vote to kill the HST by August 5th (last date to vote in the HST Referendum) - see here

In Vancouver:

* Global TV Victoria bureau chief Keith Baldrey looks at the 2 cent gas tax hike and the impact on both municipal and provincial politics - see here
* Province political columnist Mike Smyth looks at yesterday's announcement by Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton to take time off to fight a new cancer - see here

Also - the Winnipeg Free Press is citing a APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) Report that Ottawa is set to table a "take it or leave it" offer with Canada's First Nations, with regard to land claims.  See here.  If this report turns out to be true - then it may signal the beginning of a fight between Canada's First Nations and Ottawa and we, as a country, province and region, need to signal compromise, rather than "drawing the line in the sand" if we have any hope of prospering as, again, a country, province and region

Update - Globe and Mail reports on this story here

Warren Brown promoted to rank of Inspector

The City of Williams Lake is pleased to announce that Staff Sergeant
Warren Brown, Officer in Charge of the Williams Lake RCMP detachment, will be promoted to the rank of Inspector and will continue to lead the detachment.

Due to the number of staff assigned to the Williams Lake detachment it has
been upgraded to an Inspector-rank Officer in Charge. After a selection and
interview process conducted by the acting RCMP North District Officer
(Superintendent), a Superintendent from RCMP Officer Staffing, the Mayor, and the Chief Administrative Officer, Brown was selected as the candidate to lead the detachment as an Inspector.

“We have been very impressed by Staff Sergeant Brown since he arrived in
Williams Lake in 2009,” says Mayor Kerry Cook. “He has been instrumental in
helping to lead the charge in our community against crime, and his work has paid off. Since he arrived, Williams Lake has dramatically reduced crime.

“Also of critical importance is the relationship building Staff Sergeant
Brown has done in our community, and in the communities surrounding Williams
Lake. He recognizes that crime prevention and reduction involves everyone,
because everyone is a stakeholder. He has shown incredible leadership, and we are looking forward to working with Staff Sergeant Brown in the years ahead as we look to reduce crime even further and continue to build relationships.”

“We’re happy to hear of Staff Sergeant Brown’s promotion,” says Chief Ann
Louie of the Williams Lake Indian Band. “Williams Lake Indian Band has had an excellent working relationship with him, and we’re pleased that his efforts have been rewarded. We look forward to continuing our work with Staff Sergeant Brown in his new position.”

“I am honoured to have been chosen,” says Staff Sergeant Brown. “I have been very fortunate to work with a number of strong leaders in the city and First Nations communities, and together these relationships have enabled the Williams Lake RCMP to move forward in creating stronger and safer communities.”

The Williams Lake RCMP detachment service area includes the City of Williams Lake, 150 Mile House, Wildwood, McLeese Lake, Horsefly, Likely, and the First Nations communities of Sugarcane, Toosey, Alkali Lake, Dog Creek, Soda Creek, and Canoe Creek.

A Message from your local RCMP Dog Service

Courtesy of Welcome to Williams Lake:

From Corporal Joe St. Amand

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Williams Lake home owners and business owners for allowing the RCMP Police Dog Services to utilize your properties for the last 23 years to train our police dogs.

You may have seen us throughout the years running on tracks on your properties, searching in alleys or backyards, which allows us to keep our police dogs trained in order to serve the community to its fullest in efforts to keep us all safe.