Churchill Detachment

Contact Information:
Box 40
Churchill, MB
R0B 0E0
Ph: (204) 675-2551
Fax: (204) 675-2933

Location:
Churchill is a unique, isolated northern community situated on the shore of Hudson Bay, 700 miles north of Winnipeg. There are no roads to connect Churchill to the rest of the province so it is only accessible by air, rail, or boat.

Local Population:
Approximately 1,100.

RCMP Detachment:
Our detachment consists of a corporal, three constables, and a Public Service Employee. The members provide policing services primarily to the Town of Churchill, but are also responsible for an 82,000 square km area surrounding the town.

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:

Multi-Agency Rabies Team Meetings: Churchill has a fairly high incident rate of rabies, attributed to the number of red foxes in the area. Detachment members attend regular team meetings in partnership with the Town of Churchill, Manitoba Conservation, Manitoba Public Health, and local concerned citizens. The goal of the rabies team is to come up with strategies for rabies prevention and recognition. The team also sets policy on how to deal with rabies if or when an outbreak occurs.

Churchill Regional Health Authority/Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: The RCMP has formed a partnership with Churchill Child and Family Services and Churchill Addictions services to set up a support group to deal with problems and concerns associated with FASD.

Child Abuse Committee: The committee ranges in size from five to thirteen community members including an elder, probation officer, medical officer, Child and Family Services representative, the school principal, and an RCMP member. The committee is composed of professionals and interested community members who are knowledgeable on the topic of child abuse and are committed to the well-being of children and families in the community.

Provincial Hazard Risk Analysis: Recently, the Town of Churchill has undergone a hazard risk analysis by the Office of the Fire Commission to determine what situations pose a risk to the community and to evaluate the community's preparedness to respond to an emergency. Currently the RCMP, the Town of Churchill support personnel (fire & first responders), The Fire Commission, Parks, DNR, Manitoba EMO, Manitoba Hydro, and Manitoba Health are attempting to implement emergency measures to deal with major crises.

Other major working groups include:

• Healthy Child Manitoba Committee (HMC)
• Manitoba Housing Authority
• Bullying
• ATV and Snowmobile Safety Group

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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.

Community Justice Forum/Restorative Justice: Members of the community along with all four RCMP members stationed in Churchill received a two-day training course. This forum was not being used to its full potential and the forum is once again being revisited in an attempt to revitalize this initiative.

Alternative Measures: Detachment members work in cooperation with a local Probation Services officer and community volunteers to help the Alternative Measures program run smoothly. Young offenders are referred to this program in two ways; either the investigating officers decide to refer the young offender here instead of the court, or the Provincial Court judge will refer the young offender.

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 to 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:

School Visits: As Churchill has only one school that encompasses all grades, no one member is assigned to it. All detachment members make regular visits. We have a close working relationship with both teachers and students, which is largely a result of the remoteness of our community. Members do presentations on bullying, drugs, bicycle safety, safety, and alertness while walking to and from school (Polar Bear Watch).

Snowmobile and Quad Patrols: Detachment members use snowmobiles and quads to make patrols throughout the remote rural areas around Churchill. Helicopter patrols are also made on occasion, compliments of local tour companies.

Other Crime Prevention Programs include:

• Bike/Scooter Registration
• Bullying Presentation
• Kidz Printz
• Drug Education
• Neighbourhood Watch Program
• Crime Stoppers/Media Prevention

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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:

Red Serge Detail: Churchill is an international tourist destination and our detachment members take this seriously. Tourists often attend the detachment to speak to the “Mounties” and, on occasion, request that members wear their red serge for a photo opportunity. Churchill residents take pride in their community and their “Mounties,” which is especially evident during the tourist seasons. Members participate in local events such as trade delegations and Remembrance Day ceremonies in Red Serge.

RCMP As a Career Lectures: The school in Churchill has an annual Career Day, which we attend to promote careers with the RCMP. Pamphlets have been created at the detachment to hand out at this event. Natural Habitat--one of the largest tour operators that visits Churchill every year for polar bear season--regularly sets up lectures for the members of their tours. A member of the detachment will dress in red serge and attend these lectures to give an overview of the RCMP and to provide photo opportunities.

School Walk Through Program: Members attend The Duke of Marlborough School during recess. Members encourage interaction with the students and the teachers with the goal of promoting positive relationships with the youth in a non-confrontational and comfortable setting.

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:

• Churchill Regional Health Authority Advisory Committee
• Churchill Regional Health Authority Community Services
• Mayor and Council
• Department of Natural Resources
• Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
• Community Business
• Manitoba Housing Authority Tenancies Committee