Leaf Rapids Detachment

Contact Information:
Box 489
Muhekun Street
Leaf Rapids, MB
R0B 1W0
Ph: (204) 473-2944
Fax: (204) 473-2904

Location:
The Leaf Rapids detachment is located 212 kilometres northeast of Thompson and 106 kilometres south of Lynn Lake. The detachment also polices South Indian Lake and Granville Lake. South Indian Lake is accessible by an all-weather road and ferry. Granville Lake, another First Nation community, lies 114 kilometres west.

Local Population:
The population of Leaf Rapids is approximately 532 people. South Indian Lake has a population of 1,100 people, and Granville Lake has a population of 100 people.

RCMP Detachment:
The detachment is comprised of one sergeant, five constables, and one administrative public service employee.

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:

Town Council: Town council meetings are held on a bi-monthly basis and address concerns regarding policing and our response to calls for service. Presently, the detachment commander is involved with council members in the development of an action plan to combat vandalism, alcohol, break and enter and other property-related offences.

Community Adjustment Committee: This committee has representation from the mayor and council, the Ruttan Workers Adjustment Committee, the Community Development Corp., USWA Local 8144, the town administrator, the town property manager, representatives from the federal and provincial governments, and representatives from the areas of health and education. The detachment commander has been appointed as a board member. This committee deals with the impact of closing the local Ruttan mine (H.B.M.S.).

South Indian Lake Suicide & Alcohol Initiative: Alcohol and suicides have been identified by this community as a problem. Together with members of the community council and the liquor inspector, this detachment is developing and implementing a strategy to combat these issues via enforcement and prevention initiatives.

Leaf Rapids Home Invasion and Break & Enter Initiative: Due to the drastic decrease in population, the numbers of home invasions and break and enters have increased. The detachment is encouraging involvement from the citizens, the community adjustment committee, and others, to assist with a strategy to prevent these crimes from reoccurring.

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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.

Leaf Rapids Youth Justice Committee: All young offenders who are not already appearing before the justice committee and who admit accountability are referred to the committee for disposition of their offences. If the youth fails to meet his or her contractual obligations with the committee, the case is referred back to the court system. The committee uses a variety of strategies to bring closure to the incident for the community, complainant and the offender.

South Indian Lake Justice Committee: The credit for this committee goes to the community of South Indian Lake, which has been running the program independently of our organization for some time. Although we are always willing to assist, our involvement is minimal.

Granville Lake: A meeting was held with the Mayor and Community representative of Granville Lake dealing with their youth and crime. Granville Lake are very interested in having some of their people trained as facilitators to be used in Community Justice Forum.

Alternative Measures: There are workers appointed in all of our communities that make use of the alternative measures program. Members are encouraged to make use of these resources and to use discretion, education, and alternatives on occasions that permit.

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:

Drug Awareness: A partnership was formed for presenting this program to older high school students during school hours. Representatives from family services, mental health, as well as our detachment, prepared an afternoon session for the school, which was well received.

Snowmobile Safety Program and Bicycle Safety Program: Each year, the local school dedicates time for police and civilian volunteers to present safety programs about snowmobile and bicycle safety during school hours.

Leaf Rapids Education Centre - RCMP School Liaison Officer: This position was identified as a priority in our local school after the mayor and council discussed our ability to focus on youth and police relationships. We actively promote regular contact between police and the youth. As well, the liaison officer meets regularly with school staff to review priorities and plan programs for the upcoming year.

South Indian Lake/Granville Lake - RCMP School Liaison Officer: A member occupies this role in the rural communities of South Indian Lake and Granville Lake. The responsibilities are similar to those listed above.

Break & Enter Prevention: The detachment provides education and information on home security and protection through presentations to the community.

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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:

Community Justice Committee Liaison Officer: This liaison position was created to help deal with any problems the committee may encounter and improvements it may wish to make.

Community Policing Committee: Among other initiatives, this committee organizes a day when people can meet police in a casual and friendly setting. This event inspires and provokes better relationships between police and members of the community.

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:

• Leaf Rapids Town council
• South Indian Lake and Granville Lake Communities
• Community Leaders
• Department of Natural Resources
• Child and Family Services
• South Indian Lake Community Constables