Year in Review

Message from the District Commander

On behalf of the Commanding Officer of “J” Division, I am pleased to provide this report on District 5 Kent activities for 2008.

Throughout the year, members of District 5 Kent faced many operational challenges. The RCMP nationally has also been making changes to address issues raised in the 2007 Task Force on Governance and Cultural Change in the RCMP. This has included the RCMP’s Vision for Change towards being :

“An adaptive, accountable, trusted organization of fully engaged employees demonstrating outstanding leadership and providing world-class police services.”

As our Commissioner committed his efforts in building the foundation for our Vision for Change, our new Commanding Officer for New Brunswick gathered his senior Officers to go beyond the Commissioner’s goal and make New Brunswick the “Safest Province in Canada”. From that moment on, all efforts and initiatives from every member of your District have been oriented and coordinated in achieving this objective and going the “extra mile” in making District 5 the safest district in New Brunswick.

As I set out in 2008 to introduce new policing strategies such as “Priority/Prolific Offender Management” to all Mayors and Councils and build even stronger partnerships towards a more holistic approach to “Integrated Crime Reduction” we faced the ultimate test one October night when the Pays de la Sagouine burned along with a number of other area arsons. As Bouctouche and surrounding communities faced trying adversities, great people, leaders and the public at large spoke out for their right to live in “Safe Communities and Neighborhoods”. All stood strong behind their leaders and police officers in their efforts to bring offenders to justice. Early in 2009, nine people were brought to justice with 63 charges. As we move forward in 2009, more charges will be forthcoming in relation to the events surrounding the “Bouctouche Fires”. As District 5 investigators focus their attention on the many leads and tips surrounding these events, they will not rest until every person that was involved and responsible for these crimes is brought to justice.

Insp. Michel Saurette

Contact us:

RCMP District 5 Kent
16 Park Drive
Richibucto, N.B.
E4W 4G5
Tel: (506) 523-4611
Fax: (506) 523-4643
www.rcmp.ca/nb
1-888-506-RCMP

Community Priorities

Safe Communities and Neighborhood

2008 saw the introduction of the RCMP’s Community Program Officer (CPO) initiative to support existing Crime Prevention Strategies while also increasing awareness into the role “Safe Behaviors and Designs” play in the creation of “Safer Communities” and its impact on the opportunity for crime to be committed and the fear of crime even in its absence.

Preventing crime and improving safety goes far beyond what government, police or the courts can do alone, nor can it happen overnight. This is about individuals, families and communities recognizing that many of the factors that contribute to crime are a shared responsibility.

Substance Abuse (Drugs and Alcohol)

Drug and alcohol abuse are often found to be directly or indirectly at the heart of many crimes. As drugs are the basic bread and butter for organized crime groups that operate in New Brunswick, District 5 restructured its operational approach and created a Street Team Unit (STU) with the mandate of disrupting and dismantling these local individuals and groups. Through their focused investigations, there were successful operations in Ste.-Anne-de-Kent and Acadieville where a large amount of cocaine and a well established marijuana grow operation were respectively dismantled by STU. STU is already active at disrupting other criminal operations.

Promoting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle free of substance abuse to youths and the public at large has been and will remain a priority for our Community Program Officer.

Safe, Safer, Safest – Road Safety Vision 2010

Road Safety Vision 2010 is an international initiative with the goal of making Canada’s roads the “safest in the World”. As such, District 5 has been a leader in working to promote this mission and building partnerships with other road safety organizations to collectively seek strategies that will effectively impact and reduce deaths and injuries on our roads. Our Traffic Unit will be working to tackle the issues of seat belt use, impaired driving, intersection safety and excessive speed. We will work closely with our partners to combine education with enforcement efforts to make New Brunswick roads some of the best in the country.

Crime Reduction – Priority/Prolific Offender

What is Crime Reduction? In short it is the regrouping of four key policing principles under one roof. Crime Reduction combines: (1) community policing and crime prevention; (2) problem oriented policing; (3) intelligence led policing; and (4) evidence based policing under one very focused group of police officers. Supported by personnel that use cutting edge crime analysis technologies, Crime Reduction police officers focus their attention on the prolific (repeat) offenders who are doing the most damage in our communities. It has been shown that a small percentage of criminals commit the largest percentage of crimes, thus our focus will be to remove them from the streets and in turn lower crime rates. In order to work crime reduction must be a collaborative effort that goes beyond policing responsibilities. The best and longest lasting solutions will come when communities help by recognizing the root causes that may lead people to crime and work together with community agencies in tackling these issues and making community safety a social priority.

Criminal Statistics

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY		NB (J DIV) ACTUAL
(RCMP Jurisdictions only)		2007	2008
CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS
	HOMICIDES	0	0
	OFFENCES RELATED TO DEATH	0	1
	ROBBERY	4	8
	EXTORTION	2	2
	CRIMINAL HARASSMENT	22	22
	UTTERING THREATS	159	153
	ASSAULTS (EXCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULTS)	364	431
	SEXUAL ASSAULTS	54	49
	OTHER SEXUAL OFFENCE	0	0
	KIDNAPPING/HOSTAGE/ABDUCTION	0	5
TOTAL		605	671
CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY
	THEFT UNDER $5000	269	319
	THEFT OVER $5000	50	11
	THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE	74	107
	POSSESSION OF STOLEN GOODS	18	36
	FRAUDS	61	63
	BREAK & ENTER	238	273
	ARSON	27	46
	MISCHIEF TO PROPERTY	337	458
TOTAL		1074	1313
OTHER CRIMINAL CODE
	PUBLIC ORDER	1	1
	OFFENSIVE WEAPONS	28	27
	MORALS	7	7
	CORRUPTION (INCLUDING PUBLIC MISCHIEF)	34	8
	OTHER CRIMINAL CODE	933	698
TOTAL		1033	741
TOTAL CRIMINAL CODE		2712	2725
FEDERAL
	DRUG ENFORCEMENT - PRODUCTION	17	12
	DRUG ENFORCEMENT - POSESSION	39	60
	DRUG ENFORCEMENT - TRAFFICKING	40	53
	DRUG ENFORCEMENT - OTHER	2	0
	LAUNDERING PROCEEDS	0	3
	GENERAL	57	80
TOTAL FEDERAL		155	208
PROVINCIAL STATUTES
	PROVINCIAL (EXCLUDING TRAFFIC)	1810	1995
	LIQUOR ACT	81	109
	MUNICIPAL BYLAWS (EXCLUDING TRAFFIC)	1	7
TOTAL PROVINCIAL STATUTES		1892	2111
TRAFFIC
	PROVINCIAL TRAFFIC	797	614
	TRAFFIC OFFENCES - OTHER	201	273
COLLISIONS
	FATAL COLLISIONS - TRAFFIC	3	5
	INJURY COLLISIONS- TRAFFIC	108	100
	REPORTED DAMAGE - TRAFFIC	381	398
	NON-REPORTED DAMAGE - TRAFFIC	170	155
	OFF-ROAD VEHICLE  - FATAL COLLISION	0	1
	OFF-ROAD VEHICLE  - INJURY COLLISION	8	12
	OFF-ROAD VEHICLE  - PROPERTY DAMAGE	5	5
TOTAL TRAFFIC		1673	1563

 

Look Ahead

For District 5, 2009/10 will be a year of focusing on priority/prolific offenders and making New Brunswick roads through Vision 2010 the safest in New Brunswick. As we move forward, District 5 will looks to its successes of the past year to energize its restructuring strategies aimed at engaging its employees, but more importantly in engaging each and every citizen it serves in building “together” the best police service for New Brunswickers.

In a speech on April 15, 2008 to the Canadian Club of Ottawa, Commissioner William J.S. Elliott described the challenges ahead as two prongs:

“The RCMP cannot provide effective policing services without the support of the communities we serve. And Canadians will not support us if they do not trust us. If Canadians are to continue to trust us, we must be more open and inclusive. We must foster a climate of open discussion and debate, within the force, with our partners and with the public”.

“Some changes will take time. But make no mistake, we are committed to change. We are also committed to maintaining and improving the quality of the services we provide to Canadians, and on which the safety of our fellow citizens depends”.

Research indicates that Crime Reduction strategies which rely exclusively on deterrence and punishment are not effective in reducing persistent offending. Incarceration creates a temporary reduction in crime, but where inclusive holistic options are developed by tapping into the insight of community members who come together, take responsibility, work in partnership and receive the necessary support from all levels of government and their agencies, the businesses community and non government organizations, more effective, lasting and community sensitive solutions are created.

Criminal behavior is a complex social problem for which there are no quick or easy answers. Crime must be fought on many fronts by a wave of concerted sustainable actions/strategies over the long term in order to produce significant lasting results. The members of the RCMP that police your communities are committed to reducing and preventing criminal behaviors through innovative, intelligence led policing strategies aimed at those who commit crimes again and again. I encourage every citizen of District 5 to reach out to your community police officer and take a few moments to discuss what “Safe Communities and Neighborhood” means to you and how we can help you reach our collective objective.

In Your Community

District Commander:
Inspector M. Saurette

Richibucto Detachment
J. Melanson, Sgt
N. Devarennes, Cpl
L. Babineau, Cpo
P. Melanson, Cst
P. Dugas, Cst
N. Menard, Cst
G. Trottier, Cst
N. Potvin, Cst
J. Bruneau, Cst
E. Loubert, Cst
E. Gerard, Cst
J. Bolduc, Cst

Bouctouche Detachment
J. Johnston, Sgt
C. Bastarache, Cpl
V. Berube, Cst
Y. Soucy, Cst
R. Lebeau, Cst
P. Lalonde, Cst
V. Lozeau, Cst
Y. Michon, Cst

Rogersville Detachment
A. Mainville, Cst
L. Muirhead, Cst
A. Simard, Cst

Baie Ste Anne Detachment
A. Moreau, Cpl
S. Noel, Cst
G. Larose, Cst

Elsipogtog Detachment
C. Yorke, Sgt
D. Sack, Cpl
J. Francis, Cpl
S. Bradstreet, Cst
M. Fraser, Cst
D. Roy, Cst
R. Martin, Cst
L. Basque, Cst
J. Lymburner, Cst
D. Rossignol, Cst
J. Drake, Cst
J. Paul, Cst
M. Augustine, Cst
T. Paul, Cst
A. Gareau, Cst

General Investigation Section
J. Audoux, Cpl
J. Tomlinson, Cst
T. Spink, Cst
M. Godin, Cst

Highway Patrol
D. Daigle, Cpl
R. Hebert, Cst
K. Demeau, Cst
G. Basque, Cst

Community Program Officer
L. Babineau-Nowlan

Support Staff
C. Leger
J. Robichaud
R. Richard
L. Gallant Richard
A. Leblanc
N. Gallant
P. Cormier
S. Sock
M. Augustine