Corporal Dave Ryan was the guest of Port Edward council on Oct. 23, and was told by mayor Dave MacDonald that there should be more police visibility in the community.
“We would like to see a little more RCMP presence during the day. I know you come out at night, I hear it, but I think public relations is just as important as reactive responding,” said mayor Dave MacDonald, adding that people seeing the RCMP more often could help alleviate some of the problems.
“It is a perception that is going around...I know there have been a few instances where people don't feel they got the service they felt they needed.”
Cpl. Ryan said those are cases he needs to be informed about.
“If you don't get the results you from police, I want to know hear about it. I will come out here myself,” said the supervisor in charge of Port Edward, Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla.
“I encourage my guys when they come on to jump in the car and drive out to Port Edward.”
And more discussion with the RCMP is something both chief administrative officer Ron Bedard and mayor Dave MacDonald said needs to happen when there is something happening in Port Edward.
“What I tell people in Port Edward is that you have to tell the police. Knowing of an incident and not reporting does not help,” he said, mentioning a lot of people will tell councillors what they see but not the RCMP.
“When people come here I say 'call the police'. People have been telling us things and then when we follow up it turns out there is no police file on the incident.”
In terms of the bear problem, Ryan said the RCMP will handle the situation should the need arise.
“To me public safety is far more important. The safety of a child or the safety of a community member...If there is an immediate danger to anyone, than police should come out and dispatch the bear,” he said.