Carman Area

Contact Information:

Location:
Carman Area is made up of three separate detachments located at Altona, Morden and Carman. The Area is bordered by the Canada/US border to the south, including the Rural Municipalities of Stanley, Rhineland, Thompson, Roland, Dufferin and the Townships 3, 4 and 5 in the RM of Grey to the north.

Local Population:
Approximately 21,000 people.

RCMP Detachment:
Carman Area consists of one Staff Sergeant, three Corporals, nine Constables, three Public Service Employees, an Auxiliary Constable and volunteers working from three detachment offices.

COMMUNITY-BASED PROBLEM SOLVING:
Often, groups are already in place to deal with ongoing concerns or community projects. The following details what community challenges are being addressed by the members of the RCMP in partnership with their community. The major working groups include:

School Emergency Preparedness: Local school divisions, schools, and the Manitoba Association of School Trustees (MAST) met to discuss and identify problems. The detachment, EDU, MAST, and school officials have now developed appropriate plans to deal with potential acts of violence.

Child Abuse: When incidents of child abuse are reported, either to Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba or the police, representatives from both the RCMP and CFS meet to discuss protocol and decide who will act as the head agency. Close contact is maintained throughout the investigation process. We also have a member who sits on the Child Abuse Committee for Central Manitoba.

RESTORATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE JUSTICE:
Nationwide, members of the RCMP are involved in alternative justice processes, whether volunteering as facilitators or sitting on steering committees. Each community may embrace a different form of restorative justice, be it community justice forums, circle sentencing, or mediation.

Youth Justice Committee: This program is coordinated by Probation Services and has a number of community members involved. The program deals with pre-charge and post-charge cases that are referred by the courts for disposition. Offenders take part in the process. Committee members monitor dispositions and contracts.

Community Justice Forums: This national RCMP initiative has been very successful in our detachment and is designed to divert offenders from the court system and develop resolutions to offences. Some of our members are trained community justice facilitators who, in turn, have trained several community volunteers.

Alternative Justice: The detachment is involved in providing a number of alternatives to the formal court process. In some cases, it may involve allowing parents or schools to deal with the matter at hand. Other alternatives would include education, cautioning, or having the violator dealt with by mediation by elected officials. Some of our members are trained community justice facilitators who, in turn, have trained several community volunteers.

CRIME PREVENTION:
Members of the RCMP are involved with a number of programs designed to prevent crime in our communities through both indirect and direct intervention. From school talks to youth initiatives and community safety plans, the goal of crime prevention programs is to target the roots of potential criminal and social problems. Members of the RCMP are involved in the following initiatives:

Citizens on Patrol Program: We have two active Citizens on Patrol programs in the R.M. of Rhineland and Stanley. These groups were founded by citizens as a result of increased property crime in their communities. This program has proven to be very successful in reducing crime. A member is assigned to act as a liaison.

Auxiliary Constable Program: The detachment currently has one auxiliary constable who work closely with regular members. The auxiliary constable speaks fluent German, which has been a tremendous asset to our detachment.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program: DARE is a collaborative program in which local law enforcement officials and local schools join together to educate students about the personal and social consequences of substance abuse. The DARE interactive lessons not only include a strong ‘no use’ message but also include lessons on learning assertiveness, managing stress, reducing violence, combating media influences, making decision about risky behaviors, having positive role models, and building self-esteem.

Other Crime Prevention Programs include:

• Citizens Against Crime
• Block Parent
• School Liaison
• Rural Crime Watch
• Bike Rodeo

POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS:
Without a solid base upon which to work, the police cannot hope to build the necessary partnerships with the community to prevent crime and to solve community problems. Members of the RCMP strive to build those bridges by appreciating the needs of the communities in which they work and live. Their commitment to the community goes beyond simple participation as residents, but also as active members of the community. Members of the RCMP are involved in the following initiatives:

• Charity Golf Tournaments
• Halloween Dance
• Red Serge Duty
• Detachment Tours
• RCMP Run for Cancer
• Law Enforcement Torch Run
• Youth Career Internship Program

QUALITY SERVICE THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS:
The community also benefits directly and indirectly from strategic partnerships that the RCMP forms with other law enforcement and governmental agencies as well as with as with other community groups. Several unique associations have been formed:

• Altona, Morden and Winkler Police Services
• Department of Natural Resources
• Municipal Councils
• Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba
• Genesis House
• Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET)
• Central Plains Regional Health Authority