Gazette - The challenges and rewards of relief work

COVER - REMOTE AND NORTHERN POLICING

by Cst Todd Scaplen RCMP Yellowknife Detachment

After spending the first three years of my policing career in the tiny community of Behchoko in the Northwest territories (known as G Division in the RCMP), I knew what I was getting myself into when I joined the G Division Relief Section. For the next two years, I would be on the road constantly, living in small isolated detachments up North.

Based out of Inuvik, the relief section is a team of five members responsible for ensuring that all two-member detachments in the Northwest Territories have someone to fill in when one of their members goes on vacation, attends training or travels outside the community for another reason. The relief section ensures that there is never a member working alone in a community, and also assists other communities that face shortages or need additional support.

When I joined the section in 2006, there were five two-member postings in G Division: Lutselk’e, on the eastern arm of Great Slave Lake; Wha Ti, northwest of Yellowknife; Tulita, at the junction of the Great Bear and Mackenzie Rivers; Paulatuk, on the northern coast; and Ulukhaktok, on the west coast of Victoria Island. In 2008, a sixth two-person detachment opened in Sachs Harbour on Banks Island. I had the opportunity to work in all of these communities, and each had its own special qualities and perks.

Being on the relief section always presented a few challenges. For starters, working at a different detachment for a week or a month at a time means you are away from home for long stretches. In my two years on the section, I spent only 35 days at my home base in Inuvik.

I travelled with a hockey bag and avery strong plastic tote, into which I packed everything I thought I would need. Still, I often had to borrow items from other RCMP members, or from teachers, nurses and other community members. I considered my computer, camera and fishing gear to be essential items for every relief posting.

When you first arrive in a community, the local RCMP members always provide a “Coles Notes” description of the town, including the problem houses and the people to be wary of. Some communities have 150 people; others 800. You may not know the residents’ names right away, but the locals always know who the new “cop” in town is.

Many homes in these tiny northern communities do not have civic numbers, which can make it difficult to find a particular house. Often, you rely on community members who are walking by to point out houses until you learn where everyone lives. The smaller communities do not have high call volumes compared to larger detachments. That can take some getting used to, but there is always something to do. Whether it’s helping someone get identification for medical-related travel, helping someone transport a large package from the airport, or simply giving an elder a ride home from the grocery store, RCMP members are seen as more than just police officers. Community involvement is key, as it keeps you busy and lets residents know you are interested in them and their culture.

Alcohol remains a big problem in the communities, especially after the plane arrives with a large delivery. It can be frustrating to watch the cases of alcohol come off the plane and not be able to do anything. However, during my last few months on the section, some communities voted to restrict the amount of alcohol that each resident could bring in at a given time. It seemed to help, and it also gave the police a bit more power to stop large amounts of alcohol from entering the towns.

During my time on the relief section, I responded to domestic disputes, suicidal persons, sexual assaults, aggravated assaults, mischief and many other Criminal Code and territorial offences — most related to alcohol and substance abuse. Members must also be careful because all homes in the communities have firearms for hunting purposes, and safe storage can be an issue. Fortunately, I was never in a situation that I considered extremely dangerous.

While the challenges were many, working on the relief section also came with rewards. Getting out on the land to see and experience the North was a remarkable opportunity. Having a baby muskox walk up to me because it got separated from its mother, watching a grizzly bear play with a fox, and ice fishing with a local elder remain unforgettable experiences.

In the long run, it was worth every second. I met some amazing people, saw some spectacular landscape and wildlife, and I got paid to do it.

Up North

Policing, community and culture

by Cpl. Yvonne Niego

The unique culture and languages of the North can make working in geographically isolated communities particularly challenging — and rewarding, according to Cpl Yvonne Niego, an Inuk RCMP member who grew up and later worked in the northern community of Baker Lake, Nunavut. Niego talks about the importance of community connections, as well as her own challenges when she left the North for a posting in a southern urban centre.

One of the first challenges that a police officer will face in a remote detachment is establishing a healthy relationship with the community. Whether in uniform or not, a police officer is often seen as being “on duty” all the time.

Also, in many remote two- or threeperson detachments, there is no immediate backup other than the people who live in the community, so getting to know them is important.

Allow the community members to get to know you. Their experiences and perceptions are likely to be different from yours, therefore communicating with them requires extra investment. Establishing yourself in a community will allow you to work better because people will want to help you. And personally, you will develop many relationships and experiences of a lifetime.

With a varied workload and no direct supervision from divisional headquarters, working in a remote detachment can be a great opportunity to develop police and management skills, as well as solid relationships with the community.

In northern society, where long winter months and lack of daylight can be suppressive on the mind, body and soul, it is very important to get out and visit, even if there is nothing to say. My motto is “engage, relate and incorporate.”

Since moving from Nunavut to ottawa three years ago, it has been a challenge for me to adjust to the big city and the southern culture. Like many, i struggle on the long commute back and forth from my house to the office.

In the North, i would be close enough to pick my kids up for lunch, get home to eat, and maybe even clean up afterward. in the evening there would be plenty of time to take them to visit with the elders.

But just as the pace of life has increased in the south, it is also changing in the North, leaving huge generation gaps.

Most northern youth speak only English and cannot communicate with their grandparents or elders. Many youth therefore turn to police officers for coaching sports and organizing extracurricular activities. There is no greater satisfaction than to see the young people you coached go on to become leaders in their community.