Little Grand Rapids Detachment

Contact Information:
General Delivery
Little Grand Rapids, MB
R0B 0V0
Ph: (204) 397-2249
Fax: (204) 397-2028

Location:
We police the communities of Little Grand Rapids First Nation and Pauingassi First Nation. It’s located on the Berens River system on the shores of Family Lake, about 268 air miles from Winnipeg near the Manitoba/Ontario border.

Local Population:
There are approximately 1,200 First Nation people of Ojibwe descent in Little Grand Rapids and 500 in Pauingassi.

RCMP Detachment:
In 2010 a new detachment building was opened, replacing the trailer used since 1992 when Little Grand Rapids became a permanent detachment rather than a fly-in patrol. The detachment consists of one sergeant, corporal, five constables, and one public service employee. The detachment has five trucks, three snowmobiles, three boats, and two ATVs. Trucks are kept in Pauingassi and Little Grands Rapids airports with three permanently stationed in Little Grand Rapids.

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:

Solvent Abuse Team: The detachment, chief and council, NADAP, Child and Family Services, Addictions Foundation, Mental Health Association, South East Tribal Council, local schools, and medical services, have formed a partnership to deal with solvent abuse issues. Progress is being made as a result of recommendations made by this team. Also, a focus on the importance of recreation and employment has led to an increase in the numbers of youth participating in youth patrol and camping trips.

Alcohol Abuse: The detachment, local nursing station, schools, Child and Family Services, NADAP and representatives from Chief and Council participate in a number of meetings to discuss the problems associated with alcohol abuse. With limited access to alcohol, bootlegging continues to be a constant problem. Pauingassi First Nation has sent letters to all airlines frequenting the community, requesting they check and refuse luggage containing alcohol. A number of large seizures have been made in Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi.

Suicide: The detachment, Child and Family Services, local schools, medical services, community elders, group homes, and concerned members of the community have joined together to form a suicide intervention team. The endeavour was organized by the South East Tribal Council and involved a two-day workshop with specialized training on suicide intervention and prevention. A Mental Health specialist continues to monitor and analyse the social conditions that are leading to these problems. This detachment has worked with the specialist in providing information and input from a police perspective.

Little Grand Rapids Child and Family Services: Our members are often involved in meetings with parents when addressing issues of family stability, alcoholism, and abuse. Several residents have received treatment and counselling as a result of input and recommendations from this office. Representatives from various groups in the community have discussed various social problems and possible solutions.

Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi have a high rate of in-custody placements from each community. Child and Family Services has a unit for placement for some of these youth in both communities.

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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.

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:

School Liaison: Members from the detachment are assigned to the two schools in our area. They regularly meet with school officials to determine their needs and requirements. School talks have been conducted by members on a number of subjects including drugs and criminal code offences. Members take part in a career choice seminar held for high school students at Little Grand Rapids School. Members attend the annual school Remembrance Day services in red serge.

Youth Gangs: The detachment encourages and facilitates the education of community members and youth on the problems associated with gangs through informational meetings and presentations with gang awareness experts.

Youth Patrols: Detachment members fully support the formation of the Youth Patrols program, which provides employment and a sense of purpose to many of the youth in our community.

Drug Education: This past year, a member of the detachment addressed a number of students ages 12 to 16 in Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi schools. Educational handouts and displays on the hazards of drug use were included in the presentations.

Group Home Liaison: One member from our detachment is assigned to be the liaison for the Child and Family Services group home. This member is responsible for meeting with group home employees to discuss their needs and the needs of the children.

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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 Functions
• Detachment Tours

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:

• Little Grand Rapids First Nation and Pauingassi First Nation Chief and Council
• Law Enforcement Partners
• Southeast Child and Family Service Child Abuse Committee
• Little Grand Rapids Resource Group
• Nursing Station