Prairie Mountain Detachment

Contact Information:
Russell Detachment
Box 40
Russell, MB
R0J 1W0
Ph: (204) 773-3051
Fax: (204) 773-3309

Roblin Community Office
Box 1020
Roblin, Manitoba
R0L 1P0
Ph: (204) 937-8054
Fax: (204) 937-8325

Rossburn Community Office
Box 280
Rossburn, Manitoba
R0J 1V0
Ph: (204) 859-2057
Fax: (204) 859-2908

WayWayseecappo Detachment
Box 322
WayWayseecappo, Manitoba
R0J 1S0
Ph: (204) 859-5071
Fax: (204) 859-5075

Location:
Prairie Mountain Detachment area is located approximately 200 kilometres north-west of Brandon and includes the western two-thirds of Riding Mountain National Park including portions of Provincial Highways 16, 83, 45, and 5. It also serves 13 Rural Municipalities with numerous towns and villages as well as WayWayseecappo, Gambler, and Valley River First-Nation Communities. The area borders Yellowhead Detachment Area to the east, Westman Detachment Area to the south, and Swan River Detachment to the north.

Population:
The total population throughout the Prairie Mountain area is approximately 10,000 people. Apart from policing the main towns of Russell, Roblin, Waywayseecappo and Rossburn, the Prairie Mountain area is also responsible for the surrounding RM’s, small towns and First-Nations communities in the area. The Prairie Mountain area also includes a Provincial ski resort and many seasonal homes, cabins and campgrounds. Most are along the Lake of the Prairies, many developments are spread throughout the area.

RCMP Detachments:
Prairie Mountain Area is a consolidated unit, with the Russell office serving as the host, community offices in Roblin, Rossburn, WayWayseecappo who report to Russell as the administrative centre. All four offices work together in the spirit of consolidation, extending service delivery to ensure safe homes and safe communities throughout the Detachment area.

The Detachment strength consists of twenty regular members and four support staff located as follows: Russell (host detachment) consists of one staff sergeant (Area Commander), one corporal, and four constables; Roblin community office, one corporal and four constables; Rossburn community office - one corporal and three constables; and WayWayseecappo Detachment, one sergeant and four constables.

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:

Mountain View and Park West School Divisions Threat Assessment and Crisis Intervention Teams: These School divisions have ongoing crisis intervention and threat assessment teams in place. Members attend and participate on an invited basis.

Community Consultative Groups: These community groups are represented by youth, seniors, business persons, Metis people, aboriginals, elected officials, the Chamber of Commerce, and other community members. Issues of mutual concern are brought to the liaison and resolutions are developed. Prairie Mountain has established a Safer Communities consultative group which meets quarterly in varying host communities. This committee has been recognized by the Manitoba West District Office as a best practice.

Youth Recreation Program: The community of Rossburn needed a place for young people to socialize and interact with each other, and with police. In partnership with the schools in Rossburn, members have set up a youth recreation program. The program runs each Tuesday evening and includes sporting activities as well as discussions on topics such as bullying, discrimination, and gang awareness. RCMP members have also initiated several sporting events with local schools, noon-hour floor hockey appears to be a favorite.

Family Violence Committee: A member from the detachment has provided numerous elder abuse awareness presentations throughout the Prairie mountain Area, recognizing that abuse does take place and offering assistance groups and programs to combat the crime. The presentations are done in partnership with seniors agencies and groups.

Child and Family Services Committee: A member from our detachment serves on this committee, along with representation from various other social agencies. The purpose if the committee is to allow various agencies in the community to share information and discuss problems and solutions. In partnership with Child and Family Services, the committee will make recommendations about issues as they arise.

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.

The Prairie Mountain Detachment Area Community Justice Forum: A trained facilitator is on strength to Prairie Mountain. Members are responsible for coordinating cases to deal with young offenders and adults. Community involvement is limited due to a lack of training, but groups such as Child and Family Services are used whenever possible.

Crime Prevention:

Members of Prairie Mountain Detachment 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 are to target the roots of potential criminal and social problems. Members of the RCMP are involved in the following initiatives:

Auxiliary Constable Program: The detachment currently has a total of three auxiliary constables. Auxiliary constables riding with regular members amplify police visibility and enhance relationships with community members. These constables provide great assistance to RCMP members with their knowledge of the community and its people. The auxiliary constables also enhance service delivery by participating in community events and crime prevention efforts.

Rural Crime Watch Program: These programs were established in communities within the Detachment area. The RCMP acts as a liaison for the citizens involved in this program.

In-School Programs: Members regularly participate in school visitations and events to promote Drug Addiction Week and drug awareness presentations. They also speak to driver education classes and make presentations regarding impaired driving, bullying, school-crossing monitoring, law enforcement, and other legal issues. Members also assist with Safe Grad, participate in Career Days, and run bike rodeos.

Citizens on Patrol (COP): The Town of Russell is at the forefront of our communities with active COPP volunteers. The group is very proactive with conducting traffic studies in conjunction with Manitoba Public Insurance. An RCMP member is responsible for the organization and maintenance of program, which currently has a membership of 30 people. The group meets monthly and work on a schedule that is supplied to each member and posted at the detachment. COPP volunteers have been very effective in detecting and deterring crime, a proven resource for detachment members.

Prairie Mountain Ski Patrol Team: In partnership with management at the Asessippi Ski Hill, detachment members voluntarily patrol the ski hill. Over the years, thefts and unruly guests have posed a problem. This partnership will allow for greater police visibility, which will hopefully decrease the number of thefts and disturbances.

Other Crime Prevention Programs include:

• Snowmobile Safety
• Block Parent
• Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP)
• Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE)

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 Duty & Parades
• Local fundraising - hockey tournament, cops for cancer
• Treaty days
• Coaching youth sports (baseball, football)

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:

• Inter-Agency Liaison Meetings
• Rural Municipality, Municipal Councils
• Victim Services
• Healthy Communities
• Assiniboine Regional Health Authority Police Agencies Committee