East Interlake Detachment

Contact Information:
Box 1500
Gimli, MB
R0C 1B0
Ph: (204) 642-5106
Fax: (204) 642-9047

Location:
The East Interlake Area is situated north of Winnipeg, between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. It encompasses approximately 7750 square kilometers with a population of approximately 35,000 people. There are five major highways that travel through the area. The Area runs from the northern limits of Winnipeg to Matheson Island.

RCMP Detachment:
The East Interlake Area consists of four detachments staffed by one staff-sergeant, two sergeants, four corporals, 24 constables and five municipal and public service employees. East Interlake Area is also supported by nine auxiliary constables. Stonewall Detachment is a 25 minute drive from Winnipeg and located in the south west of the East Interlake Area. Thirty kilometers north of Stonewall is Teulon Detachment; Arborg Detachment is located in the north west of East Interlake Area, 60 kilometers north of Teulon. Gimli Detachment is approximately one hour drive from Winnipeg which is located in the eastern portion of the East Interlake Area.

Community-based problem solving:

Often, there are groups 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:

Community Policing Report: The detachment conducted a survey involving retirees, labourers, students, and fishermen in the Gimli detachment area. This survey was used to identify the most serious crime problems, as seen by these citizens. These groups rated their priorities in the areas of crime prevention, crime solving, interaction with the community, and communications with the community. This survey showed that people feel the main crime problem is teenage drug abuse, vandalism and idle youth in the community. Recommendations were made to look at more drug awareness programs for students and parents. Another recommendation made was to have students work in cooperation with police by giving them a better understanding of the Crime Stoppers program so that they need not fear the lack of confidentiality in reporting suspects.

Interlake Women’s Issues Committee: This committee consists of representatives from Women’s Advocacy, Interlake Women’s Resource Centre, Manitoba Housing, Child and Family Services and the RCMP. The purpose of the committee is to discuss specific issues and concerns that exist for women in rural areas.

Child Abuse Committee: The committee is made up of health care specialists, Social Services workers, RCMP, and education officials. This body meets monthly to deal with cases of child abuse and neglect. The purpose of the committee is to share information and discuss possible problems and solutions. Intervention and family assistance are generally the agreed upon methods.

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Restorative and alternative justice:

Nationwide, members of the RCMP are involved in alternative justice processes, whether it is 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.

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:

Interlake Snow Trackers: Interlake Snow Trackers are a snowmobile club that groom and maintain about 500 kilometers of trails. The trails link together the areas of Petersfield, Winnipeg Beach, Gimli, Riverton, Hecla, Arborg, Fraserwood and Narcisse. Gimli Detachment has one member on the club’s Executive Board. Along with routinely addressing the club on areas of concern and safety, this member has also addressed an ongoing problem of Off Road Vehicle Act enforcement, SNOPASS enforcement, and vandalism to their property. This member is also the local media relations liaison and has used the local papers to promote the safe operation of snowmobiles and adherence to the Manitoba Off Road Vehicles Act. This has improved cooperation between police and the club and they support and assist police where possible in enforcement.

Citizens on Patrol (COP): The detachment has established a COP program in Gimli, Grosse Isle, Stonewall and Warren. These programs have a member liaison officer who shares information with the group, provides training for new members, assists in recruiting new members and addresses any concerns that may arise. There are 30 members in the Gimli group and 25 members in the Stonewall group, 10 members in the Grosse Isle group and 10 members in the Warren group.

S.T.A.R. Community Partners: Southwest Teens At Risk (STAR) and its community partners look beyond the behaviours to find out what is causing a youth to act in a risky way. They then work with the parents and the youth to resolve the issues so that everyone can move forward in a positive and healthy manner. There is currently one STAR worker situated at the Stonewall office.

Other Crime Prevention Programs include:

• School Liaison
• Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
• Seniors
• Drug Prevention & Enforcement
• Safe Grad Committee
• Bicycle Patrols
• Auxiliary Constable Program
• Liquor Control Act Enforcement
• Gimli's Icelandic and Summer Festivals
• Gimli Early/Middle Years School
• Evergreen School Band Program
• Evergreen Band Boosters Organization
• Evergreen School Division
• Arborg High School
• Media Relations
• Village of Riverton
• Manitoba Car Seat Coalition

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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 daily 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 Duty
• Job Shadowing
• Detachment Open House
• RCMP Golf Tournament
• Coats for Kids
• Businessmen's Hockey League
• Islendadingadangurin
• Arborg Summerfest
• Inwood Women's Golf League
• Christmas Cheer Board & Hampers
• Volunteer Support Staff Program
• Gimli Park Community Project

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 other community groups. Several unique associations have been formed:

• Manitoba Natural Resources / Conservation Officers
• Manitoba Public Insurance
• Manitoba Hydro
• Canadian Coast Guard
• Correctional Officers
• Manitoba Liquor Control Commission
• Gimli, Stonewall, Arborg and Teulon Health Committees
• Gimli and Stonewall Child and Family Services
• Park and Beach Patrols
• Gimli, Stonewall, Teulon and Arborg Chambers of Commerce
• Manitoba Justice
• Teulon Youth Business Initiative
• Hecla Island Provincial Park
• Town of Gimli Mayor and Council
• Town of Stonewall Mayor and Council
• Rural Municipalities of Gimli, Bifrost, Armstrong, Rockwood, Rosser and Woodlands, and Towns of Arborg, Stonewall, Winnipeg Beach and the Village of Riverton