Yellowhead Detachment

Contact Information:
Box 298
Shoal Lake, MB
R0J 1Z0
Ph: (204) 759-2390
Fax: (204) 759-2704

Location:
Yellowhead Detachment is located North of Brandon and includes the southern half of Riding Mountain National Park including portions of Provincial Highways 10, 16, 21, 45, and 83. It also serves eight rural municipalities with numerous towns and villages as well as Keeseekoowenin and Rolling River First Nations.

Local Population:
The total population for the Yellowhead area is approximately 9000 people. The size of the area policed is 7621 kilometers squared.

Wasgaming area’s population alone can be 10,000 to 30,000 people in the summer, and can increase by 30,000 to 50,000 people on weekends and long weekends. This is due to the greatly increased return of cottagers and campers in and around the area and in Riding Mountain National Park.

RCMP Detachment:
The Yellowhead area is a consolidated unit, with the Shoal Lake office serving as the host along with community offices in Hamiota, Elphinstone and Wasagaming.

Shoal Lake is the administrative and operational centre of Yellowhead Area. Hamiota, Elphinstone and Wasagaming are Community Offices which report to Shoal Lake. All four offices work together when any problem may arise. In the spirit of consolidation, members regularly extend their patrols as required to ensure safe homes and safe communities throughout the Detachment area.

The Detachment strength consists of thirteen regular members and four support staff located as follows: Shoal Lake/Hamiota Zone - one staff sergeant (Detachment Commander), one corporal, and five constables; Elphinstone/Wasagaming Zone - one corporal and five 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:

Rolling River 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.

Elder Abuse Education: A member from the detachment is a participant and educates the local elders with the partnership of other agencies. Matters related to elder abuse, both physical and financial, are reviewed and recommendations are made regarding issues as they arise.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E): Currently there is a trained member who is responsible for the Yellowhead Area in educating students in drug prevention and peer pressure, and teaching good decision making skills to help them avoid high-risk behavior to ensure they grow up healthy, safe and secure.

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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 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 four 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.

Citizens on Patrol Program (COP): This program is formally established in Erickson and Sandy Lake, and holds monthly meetings where a Yellowhead member will attend and assist the communities with recommendations about issues as they arise.

Cottage Watch Program: This program is active in the Sandy Lake, Shoal Lake andRiding Mountain National Park areas. Winter patrols by snow machines are conducted, and notices are posted to advise cottage owners of our patrols.

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 open houses.

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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:

• Police and Pioneer Museum (Official RCMP Museum for Manitoba-Shoal Lake, Manitoba)
• Red Serge Duty and Parades

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
• Assiniboine Regional Health Authority Police Agencies Committee