Thursday 13 April 2023
Higgs government rules out provincial police force to replace RCMP
Automatic reply: YO Higgy Why is that I am not surprised that I am being blocked from commenting on this topic?
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Questions raised about use of peace officers to patrol New Brunswick highways
Some wonder if due diligence was done, others hope it will free up Mounties for community policing
"If you're going to give people who are not police officers more authority so that they are acting like police officers, shouldn't people know that?" said criminologist Michael Boudreau of St. Thomas University.
Boudreau's comments come after a meeting this fall between municipal officials in southwestern New Brunswick and Public Safety Minister Kris Austin.
At the meeting, Austin said, "some of the highways now are being done by Public Safety," Eastern Charlotte Coun. Darrell Tidd told Information Morning Saint John, during an interview about RCMP expansion plans.
Michael
Boudreau, a criminology professor at St. Thomas University, says the
peace officers are being tasked with 'police-type jobs.' (CBC)
CBC requested interviews with the Department of Justice and Public Safety and with the New Brunswick RCMP to find out more about how these peace officers are operating in collaboration with police.
No interviews were granted, but several communications officers provided prepared answers to some questions by email.
There are now 63 positions provincewide, said one email, from Sarah Bustard, a spokesperson for the Justice and Public Safety Department.
That's a big increase since 2018, when CBC first reported on commercial vehicle enforcement officers issuing speeding tickets to non-commercial motorists. At the time, there were 17 "patrol units," across the province, usually consisting of one officer.
"This is an important change in terms of how policing is conducted in the province," said Boudreau.
"From my perspective, what they're trying to do is create a provincial police force on the cheap," he said.
Since 2019, the budget for the departmental division that these officers fall under increased to $20 million from about $17 million, budget documents show.
"Government investments resulted in increased resources in this program," Bustard said by email.
"It's been creeping," Boudreau said.
Several years ago, conservation officers and other public safety officers received firearms training to deal with aggressive hunters, he said.
Since
2019, the budget for the departmental division that peace officers fall
under increased to about $20 million from $17 million, budget documents
show. (Submitted by Justice and Public Safety)
Then, during the pandemic, peace officers were given authority to enforce border restrictions. And recently, public safety officers were equipped with more firearms, Boudreau said.
The criminal justice system researcher questions whether "due diligence" has been taken.
"They didn't even really look into what the costs would be of creating a provincial police force," he suggested.
"They're sort of trying to do it piecemeal."
Asked for the public safety minister's response to that assertion, the department said in an emailed statement that there is a distinction between its highway safety enforcement "law enforcement agency," and a full-fledged "police force."
"They have no responsibilities to police any of the many New Brunswick municipalities or communities," said the statement.
The provincial government may not be calling them "police officers," but they're being tasked with "police-type jobs," said Boudreau.
Thes include reducing speeding, reckless and impaired driving and deaths on trails and roads, according to an emailed statement from a department communications officer.
Meanwhile, they don't have the same authority to arrest someone in every circumstance, noted Boudreau.
"And they're certainly not trained in the law the way police officers are," he said.
The department countered that it took "extensive diligence" to ensure highway safety officers have the training and tools required "to excel" in their duties.
To that end, it said it conducted research and engaged with a number of parties, including WorkSafeNB, the Atlantic Police Academy, the peace officers' union and New Brunswick police chiefs.
Highway safety enforcement officers need a one-year course in law enforcement and six years of law enforcement experience, said an email from communications officer Coreen Enos.
They also require certification training at the Atlantic Police Academy "in areas such as mental health, crisis intervention and de-escalation, law, use of force, firearm and intermediate weapons, police vehicle operations and scenario-based response training," she said.
From my perspective, what they're trying to do is create a provincial police force on the cheap,
- Criminologist Michael Boudreau
They are offered further training in speed enforcement, screening devices, field sobriety testing and drug recognition.
They must be recertified annually in use of force, weapons and scenario-based response.
And they have access to the same databases as police, said Enos, so that if they pull someone over they would be able to see whether the person had any outstanding warrants, for example.
The province and the RCMP both say the "main" or "primary" responsibility of highway safety enforcement officers is commercial vehicle enforcement.
However, a provincial official said they also, "form part of an integrated tactical traffic enforcement unit with the RCMP and support all police agencies when those services are requested and required."
A statement from an RCMP spokesperson referred to the peace officers as being separate from its own "tactical traffic enforcement unit" but acknowledged they "frequently" partner and "always welcome" the opportunity to do so.
At
meeting with municipal officials in southwestern New Brunswick this
fall, Public Safety Minister Kris Austin said duties on some highways
were now being carried out by peace officers. (Mikael Mayer/Radio-Canada)
There's also some support for the arrangement from rural areas that are struggling with petty crime and access to regular police services.
"We don't need the RCMP policing the highways. We need them policing the community," said Tidd, the Eastern Charlotte councillor.
"If the province can do something to take some of that workload off of the RCMP, then maybe they could spend more time in the community," he said.
But when asked whether peace officers will help take some of the workload off the RCMP, neither the Public Safety Department nor the Mounties indicated that they would or that it's an objective.
"If not, why are we doing it?" asked Boudreau, referring to the expanded peace officer ranks.
Asked for statistics that would give some indication of how things are going with the expanded and combined Highway Safety Enforcement Officer force, the department sent links to its annual reports.
These reports do not include any statistics on warnings or tickets issued to non-commercial vehicles and Enos did not respond to a followup email asking for that information.
Another big issue Boudreau has is about oversight.
The New Brunswick Police Commission is not set up to investigate complaints about the conduct of highway safety peace officers.
"That's definitely a concern," said Boudreau, "especially if these officers are armed and something goes wrong."
A bill before the legislature would make them subject to commission oversight, said Enos.
"The department plans on that happening in 2024," she wrote.
The same bill would make these peace officers subject to independent SIRT investigations in the event of serious incidents involving officers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Information Morning Saint John
Methinks
Kathy Bockus and DeAnna Hill and my Brother in Law Reid Chedore know
why I am laughing TJ Burke's latest trick N'esy Pas Higgy?
LeClair, Andy<Andy.LeClair@rcmp-grc.gc.ca> | Wed, Oct 12, 2022 at 2:56 AM |
| To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | |
Good day, I am currently on annual leave and will be returning on 2022-10-12. If you require immediate assistance, please contact S/Sgt. Eric Dube at (506)365-0490. Bonjour Je suis présentement absent du bureau. Je serai de retour le 12 octobre 2022. Pour toutes demandes urgentes, veuillez contacter S/Sgt. Eric Dube (506)365-0490. | |
Austin, Hon. Kris (JPS/JSP)<Kris.Austin@gnb.ca> | Tue, Nov 15, 2022 at 2:48 AM |
| To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | |
Thank you for taking the time to write, your email is important to me. Your email has been received and will be reviewed in a timely manner. If your inquiry more appropriately falls within the mandate of another area of government, staff will refer your email for review and consideration. If this is a request for the electoral district of Fredericton-Grand Lake, please contact Janet Johnston
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Giving carbines to peace officers could be step toward N.B. police force, minister suggests
New 'tools' for wildlife officers and others will increase law enforcement capacity, Kris Austin says
New Brunswick wildlife officers and other inspection and enforcement officers with the Department of Justice and Public Safety will soon be armed with carbines and Tasers, and wearing body cameras, in what could be a first step toward a provincial police force.
Public Safety Minister Kris Austin announced the new "tools" on Thursday.
"The RCMP is the New Brunswick provincial police force, but this initiative will not only keep officers safe, it also supports increased law enforcement capacity within the province," he said in a statement.
Asked in an interview Friday whether this could be a prelude to a new provincial force, Austin didn't say no.
"I've said from Day 1, since I was sworn into cabinet, all options are on the table," he said, and the province still isn't sure of the federal government's plans for the RCMP and local policing long term.
It's all in an effort to ensure that our department is ready for the task at hand now,and as well, should directions change.
- Kris Austin, minister of public safety
"So you know there's a multitude of reasons why this is a necessary step.
"It's all in an effort to ensure that our department is ready for the task at hand now, and as well, should directions change, that we have those assets for a new direction, if that's one that is determined down the road."
Last April, Austin told a committee of the legislature the government believed a provincial police force was "really not feasible," because the cost would be "extremely high" and the transition could take a decade.
Carbines, used by the RCMP, are semi-automatic, short-barrelled rifles that have a longer and more accurate range than pistols or shotguns.
Comes amid unrest with RCMP services
The announcement comes amid unrest with RCMP services in rural areas across the province.
The mayor of Saint Andrews has said public confidence in policing in his region is "at an all-time low," while some communities, such as Fundy Shores and Eastern Charlotte, are exploring their policing options.
New federal Public Safety Minister and New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc plans to take a closer look at RCMP services for municipalities. He has already been in talks with provincial and municipal governments unhappy with the services they're receiving from the national force, he said.
New
federal Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said he has heard
concerns about the cost of RCMP contracts with local communities, but
believes creating a new police force may cost them even more. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
"Jurisdictions are expressing concerns and frustrations," LeBlanc said. "So one of the logical outcomes of that is that they set up their own model of policing. So if they're saying that to us, maybe we're saying it to them, but no decisions have been made.
"We're not about to to act rashly or high-handedly or unilaterally in this space, but we're certainly willing to have conversations."
LeBlanc believes setting up a new force would cost more, but provinces are free to do so.
"It is fundamentally their jurisdiction."
Need to be able to match threats, in worst-case scenario
Austin said the performance of his department's roughly 200 peace officers over the past three years has been "impressive" and showed they can do more to support police.
The province has also seen an increase in crime and an increase in heavier-calibre weapons being seized, he said.
"We have to ensure that our officers have the tools they need to be able to match those threats in a worst-case scenario."
Public Safety Minister Kris Austin says peace officers can do more to support police. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Peace officers are currently equipped with "sidearms," body armour, pepper spray, batons and handcuffs.
Department spokesperson Geoffrey Downey said the decision to add Tasers and carbines is "about an employer doing its due diligence to care for the safety of its employees."
Austin declined to say under what type of circumstances a wildlife officer, for example, would use a carbine, or describe a scenario where one might have proven been useful in the past.
"I'm not going to get into hypotheticals of when and where," he said. "There's no way to know what type of threats they're going to be facing, and that's the point."
$1.36M cost, 'rigorous' training
The initiative will cost about $1.36 million — $560,000 for 115 carbines, ammunition and equipment to carry them in vehicles; $300,000 for 100 conducted energy weapons, commonly known as Tasers, including holsters and cartridges; and $502,000 over five years for 140 body cameras.
Some officers who have passed the necessary training have already been equipped with Tasers and body cameras.
Austin could not immediately say how soon the officers will be armed with carbines. They must successfully complete mandatory training first, he said.
It will be the same training police officers receive, the Atlantic Police Academy's firearms course, which covers firearm safety, marksmanship and tactical skills, said Austin.
"It's pretty rigorous to ensure that the officers … know how to use them, know when to use them, and be able to effectively and safely use these weapons when needed," he said.
As to why the department opted for carbines over other types of firearms, Austin reiterated that the officers need to be able to match any threat and keep themselves safe.
The use of carbines — and why Moncton Mounties didn't have them during the 2014 shootings — was at the centre of a Canada Labour Code trial in 2017.
The gunman was armed with an M305.308 semi-automatic rifle and a Mossberg 500 12-gauge shotgun. The officers who responded were carrying their duty pistols.
Constables Fabrice Gevaudan, Doug Larche and Dave Ross were killed. Two more RCMP officers were shot but survived.
A judge found the RCMP guilty of failing to provide adequate use-of-force equipment and related user training to the Moncton Mounties. The national force was ordered to pay a penalty of $550,000.
Concerns among First Nations
The weapons announcement has raised concerns among some First Nations, according to Derek Simon, the legal counsel for Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc., which represents nine Mi'kmaw communities.
He said wildlife officers, in particular, come into contact with community members when they're exercising their treaty rights to hunt and fish, which can lead to conflicts.
He questioned whether the officers will have adequate training on the weapons and on how to de-escalate situations.
"We saw with the.shooting deaths of Rodney Levi and Chantel Moore, some of the problems that can arise when armed peace officers come into contact with Indigenous peoples," said Simon.
"And now … the province is expanding who can carry these types of weapons," he said, noting carbines can "do a lot of damage" to humans.
Derek
Simon, who works as legal counsel for Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc., said
the province's decision to give peace officers more weapons stands in
contrast to the peacekeeping program MTI is developing, where unarmed
community safety officers are trained in early intervention and dealing
with issues such as mental health, poverty, addiction and trauma. (Rachel Cave/CBC)
Some community members are already afraid to exercise their treaty rights after being confronted by wildlife officers "quite aggressively," Simon alleged. "This is going to be a real deterrent to people."
Austin said all peace officers are trained in de-escalation and how to use the most appropriate way to resolve an issue. He also said the officers won't be "walking around" with the weapons; they will be in their vehicles.
80% of survey respondents support greater role
The Justice and Public Safety officers are responsible for enforcing provincial and federal legislation in the areas of fish, wildlife, environment and natural resources; commercial and off-road vehicles; illegal cannabis and tobacco; as well as criminal code, controlled drugs and substances and firearms offences.
Peace officers also "work closely with all policing agencies in a support capacity when required," the department noted.
They are involved with the RCMP's tactical traffic enforcement unit responsible for highway enforcement and the joint-force integrated enforcement units, which investigate low- to mid-level drug dealers.
According to the department, 80 per cent of New Brunswickers who responded to a 2023 Policing and Public Safety Study said peace officers "could do more to ensure a safe and secure province."
The random telephone survey was conducted between April 26 and May 1 with 400 adults, according to the department spokesperson. Downey did not say whether people were asked specifically about weapons.
All officers with Justice and Public Safety will also wear body cameras in the field now, as officers from many police forces do.
"These cameras aim at strengthening transparency, accountability and public trust," the department said.
"They also help resolve public complaints more quickly, improve interactions with the public and improve evidence gathering."
RCMP doing 'excellent job,' says West District commander amid unrest in rural areas
Supt. Andy LeClair says police and residents need to work together, and vigilantism is not acceptable
The
Office of the Fire Marshal has completed the on-site portion of its
investigation into the fire that destroyed an abandoned residence on
Deer Island last Tuesday night and it's being treated as 'deliberately
set.' (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Deer Island fire 'deliberately set'
And people on Deer Island, frustrated over an alleged lack of police response to local crime, such as thefts, allegedly took matters into their own hands last week, prompting the RCMP to issue a warning against vigilantism.
An abandoned residence was destroyed in a suspicious fire and a car was heavily damaged by a group of people at the ferry terminal late Tuesday night, and some fuel was reported stolen from the ferry terminal on Wednesday morning.
Investigators are treating the fire as "deliberately set," according to a spokesperson for the Office of the Fire Marshal. "Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP," said Geoffrey Downey.
RCMP have not provided any updates on their investigation.
'Cooler heads need to prevail'
LeClair described the incidents on Deer Island as significant and surprising.
It's "simply not acceptable" for people to take matters into their own hands, he said.
"The police take a very dim view on that and the judiciary takes an extremely dim view on that, as we've seen in the province," LeClair said, referring to a recent case in McAdam, where a man was sentenced to 18 months in jail for an act of vigilante justice.
"Cooler heads need to prevail."
Deer Island is "actually a very safe community," LeClair said. Crime statistics don't indicate any "major issue" there.
Some residents CBC News has spoken to report a recent rash in thefts and blame people who allegedly use drugs and who allegedly stayed in the now-destroyed abandoned residence when they visited the island at night, just as the ferry service shuts down until morning, making it more difficult for St. George RCMP to respond.
However, LeClair said there have been no calls related to the property in question "in recent history." He did not elaborate.
"What actually came out may not be based completely on reality because there simply aren't the crime stats to back up some of the communication that's going around on social media."
50 complaints a year from island
RCMP receive about 50 complaints a year from the island of roughly 700 people, ranging from general assistance to break-and-enters, said LeClair. There haven't been any violent robberies, he said.
"I don't want to diminish any crime because anyone that's a victim of a crime is impacted," he added.
Andrea Anderson-Mason, MLA for Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West, told CBC she has also had an increase in resident complaints from other areas, such as St. Stephen and Grand Manan, about a rise in crime, particularly thefts. But New Brunswick RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Stéphane Esculier said, there "does not appear to be a significant difference" in statistics from year to year.
"However, perception is reality," Esculier said. He did not provide any figures.
If people are being victimized, they need to call the police — even for minor crimes, stressed LeClair. The information adds to crime patterns and helps police do their job more effectively, he said.
Need to consider 'best bang for the buck'
Asked about reports that some people don't bother to call police because they don't feel they get a real response, LeClair said if it's a "high-priority file," officers will attend "as quickly as possible."
There are, however, geographical barriers in rural areas to being "right on the scene," he said, citing the ferry required to get to Deer Island as an example.
"The simple fact is that there will be times where response times are going to be impacted because our officers have larger areas to cover and so getting to a complaint can take longer."
The
Deer Island Princess II ferry, pictured here, and the John E. Rigby
ferry depart Deer Island between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., according to
Coastal Transport's website. (Transportation Safety Board)
Deer Island lost its resident officer in 2020 when the RCMP and provincial government made a joint decision to decommission the detachment, according to Esculier. He did not provide reasons.
St. George officers go to Deer Island "regularly" and respond to calls based on priorities in the region, Esculier said.
RCMP need to be strategic about where they station officers, said LeClair. To post officers full time in locations like Deer Island "may not be the best bang for the buck."
"If there's an emergent situation on Deer Island or Campobello, would I like to have a police officer right there? Of course I would. That goes without saying. But that's simply not the reality."
Police presence a 'consistent message' for 2 years
LeClair said it's concerning to hear a politician say public confidence in policing is at an all-time low.
He believes it relates largely to police presence, "or the perceived police presence."
It has been a "consistent message" at community meetings he has attended over the past two years, he said.
Eighty officers are set to be hired with $20.5 million from the provincial government, 51 of them for the frontline, LeClair said.
"So that is going to translate into more visibility into the community."
Location of new officers based on several factors
The RCMP still has to decide where the officers will be allocated. "There's a certain science that goes into that," said LeClair. It's based on several factors, such as call volumes, severity of calls, cop-to-population ratios, file loads, and "all kinds of consultation."
Filling the positions is also a challenge — one faced by all police forces across the country, according to LeClair. It's very different from when he started policing in 1990 and people were lined up for jobs, he noted.
Pressed on how soon people can expect to see new officers in place, LeClair said it's an "ongoing project."
When they see a police officer they know, 'OK great, they're there, they have our back.' And so that is important.
- Andy LeClair, RCMP west district commander
"It's not going to be done in one month. It's going to be over a period of months."
LeClair declined to say how many more officers the RCMP actually needs.
"I'm not going to put a cap on numbers," he said. "But to actually be getting 80 officers coming to the province to bolster our membership, that's huge."
Increased police presence, such as having an officer drive through a town, might not have a significant impact on crime rates, according to LeClair, who spent the majority of his 33-year career in urban areas of the lower mainland of British Columbia, where "there are cops everywhere."
What it does do is make the public feel safer, he said.
"When they see a police officer they know, 'OK, great, they're there, they have our back.' And so that is important.
"And so, you know, I would agree we need to do better with respect to how we engage and how we connect with the community, and that's going to be an ongoing goal for us."
With files from Information Morning
80 Comments
Yea Right
no Mounties around the residents of Deer Island are now sitting ducks.
I called the RCMP multiple times.
Over a two year old and a small baby being left in a car in the middle of one of the hottest day in the summer while both parent went into the grocery store to shop.
Over someone swerving into the bike lane to try to run me over.
Over people not stopping at crosswalks ( I don't bother using crosswalks anymore, I just cross when I see an opening wherever I am at the time. I've stood at the crosswalk and had over 20 cars drive by)
Over people doing double the speed limit in a residential area.
Over people driving on the sidewalk
Once... ever did the police show up, and it wasn't for the kids in the car.
People have tried to get into my car multiple times, people around me have had their cars broken into, etc...
I don't bother calling the RCMP anymore, what's the point? So they can look for crime patterns?
How about being around so you don't need to look for patterns?
So they took it in their own hands. While the RCMP was chasing expired registrations the people of Deer island was chasing out criminals and drug dealers. I salute the people of Deer Island. Shame on the RCMP.
Pathetic.
"information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view."
1.become aware or conscious of (something); come to realize or understand.
that is the way you seen it wich is valid too
2-interpret or look on (someone or something) in a particular way; regard as.
that basically means that one might imagine more crime because they have a perception that where they see certain people they do not trust, they are convinced that crime must be up too.
just to keep up with drivers on the unpatrolled highways and byways.
From a massive concrete slab to neighbourhood watch: how some N.B. communities are confronting crime
Municipal officials and local RCMP have met with residents to hear their concerns
Terry Belliveau, the owner of T&N Liquidators, a business in Beausoleil, a Kent county municipality north of Moncton, a string of thefts in recent months meant a significant hit to the bottom line.
After a trailer full of goods he valued at around $10,000 was stolen, he put an enormous cement block in front of a remaining trailer.
"It's frustrating that the police aren't more visible in Notre Dame," he told Radio-Canada in French. "We would like to have help from the RCMP. We would like to have help from the town."
It's part of a series of thefts and break-ins that appear to be plaguing the community over the past few months, and part of a broader concern across New Brunswick, where officials are worried about vigilantism and struggling to provide a consistent police presence in small places.
Three weeks ago, several dozen residents of Beausoleil and neighbouring communities Champdoré and Maple Hills met with municipal officers and police. The goal was to form a neighbourhood watch for the affected communities.
Beausoleil Mayor Jean Hébert said he has heard from residents that they don't feel safe at home because of ongoing thefts and break-ins.
Beausoleil Mayor Jean Hébert said there is no magic solution to
lessening the number of break-ins and thefts in the community. (Ian
Bonnell/CBC)
"Around here, we all think we're safe all the time," he said. "But that's not what's been happening so people have been putting up cameras, lights, alarms and stuff like that."
He said the police are doing what they can, and he hopes the neighbourhood watch will lead to something positive as well.
"We're trying to have a solution that would work," he said.
"It's not obvious. We don't have a good solution right now but hopefully we'll find something that makes this situation better than it is. People want to be safe at home. That's it."
Beausoleil is partially patrolled by the Shediac RCMP, and partially by the Richibucto RCMP, though Hébert said that does not create any complications.
Ricky Leblond, detachment commander for the Richibucto RCMP, said Notre Dame, part of Beausoleil and the location of Belliveau's business, has been an area of focus for his detachment for a while now, not just in recent weeks.
He said the RCMP has been in contact with residents, and encouraged them to continue to report any incidents so they can be investigated.
"We're continuing our patrols in the area," he said.
With files from Radio-Canada
25 Comments
N.B. faces 'crisis of policing,' as rural communities explore options amid vigilantism
Criminology professor says province should revisit creating provincial force to replace RCMP
Otherwise, Michael Boudreau, of St. Thomas University, worries the province could see more "desperate" people "take the law into their own hands," like the alleged acts of vigilantism on Deer Island last week, and there could be tragic consequences.
RCMP continue to investigate after a car was heavily damaged by a group of people at the Deer Island ferry terminal Tuesday around 11 p.m., an abandoned residence was destroyed in a suspicious fire about an hour later, and some fuel was reported stolen from the ferry terminal Wednesday morning.
Some residents frustrated by an alleged lack of police response to a rash of thefts — often after the ferry stops running for the night, making it even harder for St. George RCMP to respond — have suggested they took matters into their own hands.
RCMP issued a statement warning the public against acts of vigilantism, saying it can put them and others at risk, and they could face charges.
The
abandoned residence RCMP say was destroyed by a suspicious fire is
located at the end of Deer Island, opposite of where the ferry from
Letete lands. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Boudreau contends the alleged vigilantism on Deer Island is not surprising, "given the level of frustration that is prevalent in so many rural communities across this province with the perceived — and real — inadequate level of policing."
He does not condone vigilantism, he said, noting the "ironic outcome" for many vigilantes who genuinely believe they can solve a crime, is that they often end up being charged and incarcerated. He cited a recent case in McAdam, where a man was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
"But for some individuals, they are left thinking, 'What options do I have left?'"
If people or their neighbours have been victims of crime, and if they continue to turn to the police for assistance and that assistance either isn't forthcoming in a timely manner, or if the crimes are never solved, that leads to frustration, said Boudreau.
If they're on social media, they might hear additional stories — which may be exaggerated — and that adds to their anxiety and perception crime has increased.
"Then public fear of crime takes over and it reaches a boiling point," he said.
"And really, what we see now is a lack of confidence in policing."
Public confidence in policing at 'all-time low'
Saint Andrews Mayor Brad Henderson contends public confidence in community policing in his region is "at an all-time low" and that additional resources are required to "make people feel safe."
He wrote a letter to Public Safety Minister Kris Austin last Friday, urging a "significant percentage" of new provincial RCMP resources be allocated to Charlotte County communities to increase police presence.
"Doing nothing is no longer an option for any level of government," Henderson wrote on behalf of council, requesting Austin visit for a meeting.
Saint
Andrews Mayor Brad Henderson says an increase in police presence in
Charlotte County would be a positive indicator to residents that their
communities are safe. (Submitted by Brad Henderson)
Some victims of crime in his community are no longer calling the RCMP to report the incidents, "as they believe that no real response happens," he said.
There are also "several cases of vigilante justice in our region both in the courts and unreported that will potentially increase."
The letter was actually written before the Deer Island incidents occurred, Henderson told CBC, but they "struck home even more" why it's important to restore trust in policing.
He urged residents to continue to report crimes to RCMP. "I think it was said best by one of our local officers when he said that they have a zero per cent success rate on crime that isn't isn't reported."
In addition, every reported incident helps the region "build a better business case" for getting more officers, Henderson said.
Saint Andrews pays nearly $1.1 million for RCMP services, and is entitled to three officers under its unique municipal contract, according to Henderson. But the town's officers are often moved around to other nearby communities, just as the RCMP does in municipalities that have a provincial policing contract, he said.
Public Safety minister discourages vigilante justice
Austin said he understands the frustration of rural communities. He lives in rural Minto and represents Fredericton-Grand Lake. "I see it, I hear it on a regular basis."
He discouraged any acts of vigilante justice and assured the government is taking the situation seriously. He pointed to a 15 per cent budget increase to RCMP to "beef up police presence in these rural areas that are having the struggles with crime."
About 10 per cent of those positions have been filled so far, he said, but recruitment is a challenge due to labour shortages.
Public
Safety Minister Kris Austin said the provincial government has
allocated money for additional RCMP officers, the issue now is
recruitment. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
New Brunswick has "800-plus" RCMP officers provincewide, said Austin.
The government also increased funding for Crown prosecutors by 50 per cent to help bring cases before the courts more quickly, he said.
"So we are tackling it, but it does take time."
RCMP finalizing allocation of extra front-line officers
The extra $20.5 million the province provided to the RCMP is to hire 80 additional officers, including 51 on the front line, said New Brunswick RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Stéphane Esculier.
The RCMP is finalizing the allocation of the additional officers, "which will enable us to increase our visibility and engagement in our communities," Esculier said in an emailed statement. He did not say how soon the national force will be able to fill the positions.
New Brunswick has '800-plus' RCMP officers, according to Public Safety Minister Kris Austin. (CBC)
The allocation is based on workload and "other factors," not a minimum number of police officers, said Esculier. "The future allocation of police resources will be measured against these factors, while also considering factors such as the ratio of police to population and geography."
2 municipalities have 'had enough'
Residents of Fundy Shores and Eastern Charlotte are also frustrated about a rise in crime and the level of RCMP service they're receiving, according to Fundy Shores Mayor Denny Cogswell.
"A lot of things that are going [on] that people are finally saying, you know, 'We've had enough. We want to see a bigger presence here.'"
The mayors of the two municipalities, formed through the 2023 New Brunswick local governance reforms, met Monday with members of their respective public safety committees and their chief administrative officers to discuss their policing options, he said.
That could include municipal, regional or provincial policing, according to Cogswell. Nothing is off the table, he said.
Fundy
Shores Mayor Denny Cogswell says he believes local Mounties are doing
the best they can with the resources they have, but residents have
expressed frustration in calls, emails and texts about the level of
policing. (Fundy Shores)
The two municipalities, which include the communities of St. George, Blacks Harbour, Chance Harbour, Dipper Harbour, Lepreau, Musquash, and surrounding areas, spend about $4 million combined on policing, said Cogswell.
"I think we need to look at, are we getting the best value for our money?"
Austin said he's open to meeting with and working with municipal officials who have ideas to make their communities safer.
Provincial force should be revisited
Boudreau contends the province has been too quick to dismiss the idea of creating a provincial police force to replace the RCMP. New Brunswick used to have one decades ago and he thinks it's a discussion worth having, he said. "If not a provincial police, then perhaps a regional police force?"
RCMP could decide to leave rural communities, said Boudreau, and they're having a hard time recruiting.
A provincial or regional force might not be any less expensive, but it would give local officials more control over where officers are positioned, he said.
In an interview Tuesday, Austin said the province has "never dismissed the idea of an alternative form of policing model for New Brunswick."
Last April, he told a committee of the legislature the government a provincial police force was "really not feasible," because of the costs and amount of time it would take to implement.
The costs would be "astronomical" and it would take about 10 years, he told CBC.
The government is open to a new model, he said. But "there has to be a plan in place that clearly shows that it's going to have a better outcome than what we have now."
Austin called on the federal government to tell provinces its plans for RCMP and local policing long-term.
With files from Information Morning and Hannah Rudderham
20 Comments
Blacks Harbour council votes to drop RCMP
Village will join with St. George and approach province for permission to create local police force
CBC News · Posted: Jan 16, 2014 9:01 AM AST
Well???
So 51 additional officers, really.
Thursday 13 April 2023
Higgs government rules out provincial police force to replace RCMP
Automatic reply: YO Higgy Why is that I am not surprised that I am being blocked from commenting on this topic?
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YO Higgy Why is that I am not surprised that I am being blocked from commenting on this topic?
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Higgs government rules out provincial police force to replace RCMP
Higgs government rules out provincial police force to replace RCMP
Minister says transition would take a decade and cost would be ‘extremely high’
Public Safety Minister Kris Austin told a committee of the legislature Thursday morning that there's no money in his budget this year to set up such a force because the province has opted against it.
"A provincial police force is really not feasible, simply because of the costs associated with it [and] the amount of time it would take to implement such a division, such a force," he said.
He later told reporters the transition to a provincial force might have taken a decade and the cost would have been "extremely high," though he didn't have a dollar figure.
"It would be a huge project, and I'm not convinced that the public would get the best bang for their buck," he said.
The province has a 20-year contract with the RCMP for policing most of the province that will end in 2032. (Shane Magee/CBC)
The RCMP now provides provincial policing under a 20-year contract in areas of the province where there is no municipal police force.
Municipalities are required to pay part of the cost, and some communities have complained in recent years that they don't feel they've been getting police coverage in line with what they're spending.
Austin said rather than replace the RCMP, his department will continue working on how its own enforcement officers, Mounties and municipal police can work together more effectively to provide better service.
He also said he's open to working with municipalities that are unhappy with the federal force and that opt to create their own forces.
"These are all discussions we're willing to have. At the end of the day it's got to be feasible. The standards have to be there. We want good policing."
Liberal
public safety critic Jacques LeBlanc says Austin raised questions about
RCMP staffing when he was leader of the People's Alliance. (CBC)
Liberal public safety critic Jacques LeBlanc said he was "kind of surprised to hear the minister say it's not feasible.… We all knew that."
He pointed out that Austin raised questions about adequate RCMP staffing in rural areas when he was the leader of the People's Alliance party, before he joined the Progressive Conservative government a year ago.
"It's like putting your foot in your mouth," LeBlanc said.
Austin acknowledged his previous position during the committee session.
"That's certainly something that I have, in previous years, obviously wanted to know more about. So now I know more about it."
Last year residents of McAdam complained at a public meeting that the RCMP were taking too long to respond to calls.
The force later stepped up their presence in the village, but local businessman Don Doherty says it hasn't helped and crime remains a problem.
Don
Doherty of McAdam said the RCMP aren't effectively responding to crime
happening in the New Brunswick village, and was one of several people
who spoke out about their concerns at a meeting at McAdam High School
last year. (Aidan Cox/CBC)
Switching from the RCMP to a provincial force wouldn't make any difference as long as federal policies and laws make it hard for police and prosecutors to arrest people or secure long prison sentences, he said.
"It's impossible to lay charges with the way the laws are," said Doherty.
"It needs to be fixed at the federal level, not the provincial level. A provincial police force is not going to change anything anyway."
Two
years ago, then-public safety minister Ted Flemming said a provincial
police force was 'something we should take a hard look at.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)
In December 2021, then-minister Ted Flemming called a provincial police force "something we should take a hard look at" because of complaints about inadequate RCMP services, especially in rural areas.
Flemming called it a complex issue and said the province would be giving up the one third of police funding that the federal government covers when the RCMP polices municipalities.
The province has a 20-year contract with the RCMP for policing most of the province that will end in 2032.
The Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick called for a review of policing services in 2021 and the provincial government's white paper on local government reform promised such a review.
Municipalities complained about the rising cost of RCMP policing after officers were unionized, as well as a lack of local control and accountability.
The province will spend $125 million on its policing contract with the RCMP this year, an increase of around $24 million this year.
Green
MLA Megan Mitton said the province should consider other ways to
support local communities, such as with mobile crisis services and
social workers. (Patrick Richard/CBC)
That increase, in part, reflects the province absorbing the increase to policing costs so municipalities don't have to pay for it, Austin said.
"As a provincial government, we said we're not going to download that cost. That cost is something we're going to bear."
Green MLA Megan Mitton said the province should consider other ways to support local communities, such as with mobile crisis services and social workers.
"What else is needed in our communities?" she said. "These are policy decisions, and I don't always think we're on the right track with this government."
But Doherty said communities need more police officers and tougher laws.
"It is not a social problem. It is a behavioural problem and the only way to correct it is with stiffer sentences."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Would it not be easier to name the communities who aren't complaining about poor service?
That's probably about it.
Is this like contractors who don't want to do the work quoting astronomical costs and timeframes so they either won't have to do the work or get a huge payday with no strings attached.
In January 1980 the Highway Law Enforcement Division was renamed the New Brunswick Highway Patrol and the focus changed to policing. Expansion during the early 1980s saw the NBHP expand its coverage to all highways in New Brunswick. Training requirements mandated a law enforcement background and members of the NBHP were peace officers with the same training and responsibilities as other police forces in the province under the Police Act.[1] [2][3] [4]
The NBHP expanded to 114 uniformed officers commanded by a chief and deputy chief and supported by civilian staff at the detachments. NBHP divided the province into two regions with a staff sergeant being responsible for each region. Each detachment was commanded by a sergeant and patrol officers had the rank of constable. There was no rank of corporal.
In July 1988 the recently elected government of Premier Frank McKenna announced that the responsibilities of the NBHP would be contracted to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "J" Division. The NBHP was abolished effective February 1, 1989. Have no idea as to why they were discontinued. It would be nice to have the NBHP reinstated.
The NBHP expanded to 114 uniformed officers commanded by a chief and deputy chief and supported by civilian staff at the detachments. NBHP divided the province into two regions with a staff sergeant being responsible for each region. Each detachment was commanded by a sergeant and patrol officers had the rank of constable. There was no rank of corporal.
In July 1988 the recently elected government of Premier Frank McKenna announced that the responsibilities of the NBHP would be contracted to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "J" Division. The NBHP was abolished effective February 1, 1989.
Province changes course and gives ombud records on new Fredericton jail
Province had refused to give records to ombud for review, claiming they are confidential cabinet documents
That comes after the department initially refused to provide the ombud's office with the records, claiming they're confidential cabinet documents.
After CBC News reported on the refusal on Wednesday, Premier Blaine Higgs said he'd asked the deputy minister and clerk to look into it.
"People are lighting their hair on fire on this and I want to make sure transparency is there as much as possible," Public Safety Minister Kris Austin said on Thursday during a Legislative committee meeting, after Green MLA Megan Mitton asked about the records.
Last year, CBC asked the province for all records that detail the need for a new jail, such as records that discuss the business case for the jail or capacity issues within existing correctional centres.
The
province refused a right to information request from CBC that asked for
records about the decision to build a new jail. The Southeast Regional
Correctional Centre in Shediac is pictured here. (CBC News file photo)
The Department of Justice and Public Safety refused to provide any records in response to that request, saying all the records are exempted under sections of the right to information law that protect confidential cabinet documents and advice to a cabinet minister.
CBC appealed the decision to provincial ombud Marie-France Pelletier, whose office handles complaints about right to information.
The government then also refused to provide copies to Pelletier's office, claiming all of the records are protected under cabinet confidences. It's one of only two reasons the law allows the department to not produce records to the ombud for review.
Austin says department followed the law
Austin said the department reversed course and decided to provide the records to the ombud "out of an abundance of transparency." He said his government has never provided a cabinet memorandum to anyone, including the ombud.
"The premier has always been very big on ensuring that the public knows what's going on and that there's no perception out there of trying to hide anything," Austin told reporters.
Austin said the department followed the law when it refused to hand over the records.
But he also said the information has already been released to the public, raising questions about how it could be considered confidential information.
"What I've given you is hard data … here's the capacity levels, here's where we're at or over capacity, over the last several years," Austin said.
"What the [memorandum to executive council] is going to give is basically the same thing summarized in a different form."
When asked whether he will follow the ombud's advice if Pelletier determines the records should become public, Austin didn't seem to see any issue, even though his department refused the right to information request.
"If it's the information that we've already been giving, why wouldn't we? There's no extra information there. It's the case around why we need the jail."
Last month, the ombud's office told CBC the records may not have been properly held back, and suggested the department reconsider its decision to not provide the records to CBC.
"Unfortunately, the department was not amenable to changing its minds, and maintained its original position that you are not entitled to access to any records," the ombud's office wrote.
Cost of Fredericton jail now up to $42 million
Austin also told the committee Thursday that the cost of the Fredericton jail is now estimated to be around $42 million, up from the $32 million figure the government gave a year and a half ago.
A spokesperson with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure told CBC this week that it won't have a better sense of the overall cost until it finishes work to "define the project's requirements."
"I'm not overly concerned that the costs are going to be that exorbitant," Austin said. "You've got to take in inflation, it's the world we live in today. But if that [number] changes, we're going to get it done."
Plans to build a new jail were announced in December 2021.
The expenditure didn't appear in the Progressive Conservative platform from the 2020 provincial election or in the party's 2018 platform. The government has cited rising crime rates and jails stretched to capacity as reasons why the new jail is needed.
- Austin leans on top cops, crime data to make case for more police spending
- Change in the way N.B. counts people in jail makes the correctional system seem more crowded
As of March 31, Austin said there were 450 men inside provincial jails, which is under the capacity number of 470. Another 18 men were being monitored by ankle bracelets on this date, the minister said.
Money better spent on housing, MLA says
Criminologists who have previously spoken to CBC have argued that building a new jail won't reduce crime or make the public any safer, and the money could be better spent on things like mental health care, addiction and housing.
Green MLA Megan Mitton pressed Public Safety Minister Kris Austin for
more justification around building a new jail. (Patrick Richard/CBC)
In the committee meeting Thursday, Mitton asked Austin to provide more justification for why the government plans to spend at least $42 million to build the jail.
"That's a lot of money," Mitton told reporters.
"We could really use those investments in other things like supporting a housing first approach, so that people who are leaving jail have the supports they need to not end up re-offending."
The department's operating budget for 2022-23 includes $3.7 million for provincial jail programming "designed to help [people] change their lives and avoid re-offending once released."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Jacques Poitras
That is both laughable and demonstrably untrue.
a new jail ??
Jails are built everyday .
Let's have more "transparency" by acknowledging
the fact that this jail has been unpopular since
it was first announced.
*Politics* at its finest !!!
Promises, promises....
Strange how it’s all good for him to question but alas, not to be questioned by others.
Although the Ombud will receive all the documents some of these documents I still do not believe will be for public consumption, as with many documents and the legislation they come under. Most of the data was already public, this was a a story when there was none.
Walking in someone else’s shoes.
And the Premier said, ….
Speeding? Don't be surprised if a commercial vehicle enforcement officer stops you
Commercial vehicle enforcement officers laid 134 charges since June 18
If you're speeding on the highway in New Brunswick, an RCMP officer may not be there to catch you.
But a provincial commercial vehicle enforcement officer might.
That's because in the last few years the RCMP has dismantled all but one of its traffic units.
"It's not rare to drive from Edmundston to Aulac and you don't see a police car on the Trans-Canada anywhere," said Louis-Philippe Thériault, an RCMP officer in Moncton who represents the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada.
- Deputy minister defends arming sheriffs and safety enforcement officers
-
Sheriff's officers start carrying guns at New Brunswick courthouses
Commercial vehicle enforcement officers, who are hired by the province to monitor vehicles like tractor trailers and dump trucks, technically have the authority to stop and ticket regular motorists, too.
And lately, they've been doing just that.
Supt. John Lunney, who is in charge of those officers, estimated somewhere around 2,000 cars are stopped every year in New Brunswick.
| Speeding of less than 25 km/h over the limit | 32 |
| Speeding between 25 km/h and 50 km/h over the limit | 13 |
| Speeding of more than 50 km/h over the limit | 6 |
| Speeding in a construction zone | 2 |
According to numbers obtained by CBC News from the Department of Justice and Public Safety, most of the offences in the past month were for speeding.
Other charges handed out by these agents include driving with an expired registration, without insurance and driving while being on a cellphone.
Between June 18 and July 15, a total of 134 charges were laid.
A commercial vehicle enforcement officer's chief purpose is to keep trucks in check. (CBC)
There are 17 patrol units operating in the province, and these agents — considered special constables under the Police Act — have the authority to enforce the Motor Vehicle Act and Criminal Code, just like police officers.
"They're encouraged to stick to their mandate where possible," Lunney said. "But if they encounter something that's of an imminent safety concern — for example, excessive speed or suspected impaired driving — they're expected to act on that."
Lunney said stopping commercial vehicles is still the bulk of what they do, though — with 800 charges laid against truckers during the same period.
RCMP short-staffed
There used to be RCMP officers whose job was to enforce the road safety code, placing themselves on the highway with a radar, on the lookout for speeding vehicles.
But those days are gone.
"Because of lack of resources, the RCMP dismantled the traffic unit in the Moncton region, in the southeast region... and other traffic units all over New Brunswick," said Thériault.
Louis-Philippe
Thériault said it is sad the RCMP is not able to do traffic anymore,
but he would rather the province enforce it than no one at all. (CBC)
According to Thériault, the changes were made gradually over the past two to three years, with those traffic officers reassigned to general duty and patrol.
"It's unfortunate," said Thériault. "We hear every day that there's more and more people going through red lights and speeding, but there's no one to enforce that."
The RCMP has confirmed there is only one traffic unit left in the province but would not say how many officers are on that unit or where it is based for tactical reasons.
That unit does both traffic and patrol.
Return of provincial police?
Last summer, the province began arming commercial vehicle enforcement officers and, in February, sheriffs working in courthouses and transporting prisoners also started carrying guns.
A move not all of them said they felt comfortable with.
In all, about 200 provincial agents have either recently been armed or are in the process of getting the training to be able to carry a firearm.
Thériault said he believes the province could be laying the foundation for a provincial highway traffic unit, or even bring back a provincial police force like we had 30 years ago.
"If I was in their shoes, this is exactly how I would do it," said Thériault.
"We're just one step away from creating the highway patrol that we used to have, and I don't blame the province."
The provincial highway patrol existed until 1989, when it was dismantled. (CBC)
Thériault said while he's disappointed the RCMP is no longer able to provide that service, he would rather have provincial agents do traffic than no one at all.
"With the RCMP now not being able to staff positions, it's created a lot of frustrations at many levels," he said.
In the 70s and 80s, New Brunswick had its own police force, with more than 100 officers in uniform working in traffic.
That force was dismantled in 1989.
Lunney said there have been no discussions with him about creating a highway patrol or restoring a provincial police force.
But he said the fact his agents have to stop people played part in the decision to arm them, because of the "unknown" of what they are having to deal with.
"Traffic stops are considered one of the most dangerous stops for law enforcement.. that and domestic violence calls."
Sheriff's officers start carrying guns at New Brunswick courthouses
Baffled criminology prof can't see why province would want to arm officers now
Sheriff's officers at New Brunswick courthouses began carrying firearms on Thursday.
The controversial move, which comes on the heels of an incident in a Maniwaki, Que., courthouse that saw a teenager shot in the head after an altercation, is part of the province's three-year plan to arm its sheriffs and security officers.
In the summer, a few dozen traffic enforcement officers were the first to be allowed to carry guns, after the Department of Justice and Public Safety received the results of a job risk assessment.
- Province arms some sheriffs and enforcement officers
- Deputy minister defends arming sheriffs and safety enforcement officers
According to the department, 36 sheriff's officers, or about one in four right now, have been trained to use guns, but the number will increase every month with new training sessions.
The New Brunswick Union, which represents sheriff's officers, said members are split 50-50 about whether they feel safer carrying a gun, or just don't see a need for one.
Sheriff's officers like this one outside the Moncton courthouse have begun carrying firearms. (CBC)
So far, the government has left it up to the officers themselves to decide if they want to get the firearm.
But that won't be the case for new hires, for whom it will be mandatory to go through a two-week intensive training at the Atlantic Police Academy in P.E.I., and five days of additional training in Moncton, to use a semi-automatic 40-calibre Sig Sauer pistol.
Teen in coma
Wednesday, an altercation between an 18-year-old man and a special constable in a Quebec courthouse hallway ended with the teen shot in the head, a horrifying incident that has put the teen into a coma.
The fight began when the teen, who had just been handed a six-month jail sentence, asked for a smoke break and was told he couldn't take one.
In New Brunswick, armed sheriffs would not be allowed in courtrooms, or even hallways — only in courthouses entrances.
Still, according to St. Thomas University criminology professor Michael Boudreau, the Quebec case is a perfect example of how things can escalate when firearms are introduced.
"Their first reaction was to go for their firearm, and that always leads to tragedy," Boudreau said.
"Without proper training initially, and then ongoing training for sheriffs, an incident like that could happen in New Brunswick. And that is a tragedy that I think all parties would want to avoid."
No real reason
Boudreau said the province has given no real explanation why it felt sheriff's officers need to be armed.
"I'm dumbfounded," he said. "I have not been aware of any heightened risk. There haven't been any serious incidents where sheriffs could have used firearms to protect either themselves, or the public. I'm not certain why this need at this particular time."
Criminologist Michael Boudreau said he doesn't understand the province's decision to arm sheriff's officers. (CBC)
Boudreau believes the fact only 50 per cent of sheriffs were in favour of wearing firearms is an indication the province's plan wasn't well thought out.
"That begs the question — if the other half feels that they can perform their duties without a firearm, then this isn't a reason to bring them on board."
The province isn't saying much about the reasons behind the move, only that it was the conclusion of a risk assessment.
''[It] demonstrated that sidearms are necessary in the execution of some duties for the safety of officers and the people they serve," said a department spokesperson.
"They said there was a study done and this is the result, not the why,'' said Susie Proulx-Daigle, union president, who was told in the spring of the province's plan.
"I think time will tell."
The province estimates the cost of arming safety officers at about $300,000 over three years.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deputy minister defends arming sheriffs and safety enforcement officers
'We don't want to wait until there's a tragic incident to allow them the tools and the training they need'
Over the next three years, the department said about 150 New Brunswick sheriffs and safety enforcement officers will be able to carry them. The requirement only applies to officers assigned to roadside checks, and officers will not lose their jobs for refusing to carry a gun.
Mike Comeau said a recent risk analysis revealed the work of peace officers on highways, roadside and mobile units does "bear some risk, as demonstrated across North America," and recognized that commercial vehicle enforcement officers do more than just interact with commercial vehicles.
"We don't want to wait until there's a tragic incident to allow them the tools and the training they need," he said.
We can't be complacent about the safety of our peace officers.
- Mike Comeau, deputy public safety minister
Comeau said officers working the mobile units on main roads and back roads across New Brunswick are pulling over drivers that aren't always expecting to have interaction with law enforcement.
He said the officers are also increasingly assisting police officers with road safety operations, where an entire team of law enforcement officers are stopping all kinds of traffic such as licence and registration checks.
"Those kinds of activities have a little more risk in 2017 than they did in 1952 or 1982," he said.
"We can't assume there are no bad people that are armed, that are going to be very upset depending on what they're transporting in their vehicles to have an interaction that they weren't expecting with a peace officer."
Already have protective gear
For several years, Comeau said peace officers have had a range of personal protective equipment, including handcuffs, pepper spray, batons and protective vests.
"We can't be complacent about the safety of our peace officers."
But he said the incidents that require such gear are very few.
Comeau said he also doesn't know if there has been an incident where firearms would have been necessary in commercial vehicle enforcement.
The news that some officers are now carrying guns comes on the heels of increased scrutiny of possible organized crime activity in the province, including the recent arrest of a high-ranking member of the Hells Angels in Woodstock.
In a previous interview with CBC News, Jean Sauvageau, a criminology professor at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, said crime rates have been dropping for 25 years across Canada, and New Brunswick is already below average.
"So where exactly the impetus is behind this is hard to fathom in that context," he said.
No public consultation
About 30 officers in the motor vehicle enforcement branch already carry guns after completing training and certification in the spring of 2017.
Comeau said the latest decision came out of discussion among workers, experts and the union.
The process was similar to one in 1983, when conservation officers were given sidearms, he said.
"[We] agreed with the employees that were raising the concern that their personal protective equipment should now include sidearms," he said.
Information Morning Fredericton
Province arms some sheriffs and enforcement officers
About 30 have already begun carrying firearms since province assessed job risks
Some New Brunswick sheriffs and safety enforcement officers now have to carry guns after the Department of Justice and Public Safety conducted a risk assessment.
About 30 officers in the motor vehicle enforcement branch already carry guns after completing training and certification in the spring of 2017.
But over the next three years, about 150 will be able to carry them. The requirement only applies to officers assigned to roadside checks, and no one will lose their job for refusing to carry a gun, the department said.
- New Brunswick ranked 2nd safest province
- Crime in Plaster Rock out of control, mayor says
- Police wary of latest crime statistics
Sheriffs in New Brunswick provide courtroom security, transport prisoners to court appearances and jails, and serve summonses, among other things.
Justice and Public Safety Minister Denis Landry, who just learned about the gun program, said the move was necessary because of the changing nature of crime in the province.
"People in the criminal world can have firearms," said Landry.
"After a risk evaluation, it was decided that these officers should carry a firearm for their safety and for the public's safety."
Landry said he wasn't made aware of the program until a few days ago.
"Nobody asked me the question," he said when asked why.
New policy questioned
Jean Sauvageau, a criminology professor at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, said crime rates have been dropping for 25 years across Canada, and New Brunswick is already below average.
"New Brunswick [has] lower than average crime rates, violent crime rates included," said Sauvageau.
"So where exactly the impetus is behind this is hard to fathom in that context."
Gangs armed
Landry suggested there is increased activity by Hells Angels, which means officers are exposed to greater risk.
"If we look at organized criminal groups, we can say that the level to which they're armed has changed," he said. "That was part of the risk evaluation."
Landry said the policy wasn't put in place as a reaction to the increased activity though.
Sauvageau suggested the motive for the policy isn't Hells Angels-related.
"The Hells Angels is very recent and this training and decisions were made prior to the whole Hells Angels situation that we are now hearing about," said Sauvageau.
Pretense of safety?
Richard Bockus, a trucker who works throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada, said he agrees with the policy.
"We're now living in a world where people are so cruel to other people," Bockus said. "I think good people have to defend themselves.
Sauvageau said some people believe that giving officers weapons makes both officers and the public safer, but it isn't so clearcut.
"It's far more complex than that," said Sauvageau.
"It is far from obvious that arming these people automatically results in increased safety for them or the public at large."
With files from Radio Canada, Kate Letterick and CBC News at 6
New Brunswick ranked 2nd safest province
RCMP report shows crime severity index dropped 6 per cent in 2011
"Generally speaking, crime is going down in New Brunswick," with the RCMP responding to 7,000 fewer calls for service in 2011, compared to 2010, said Lang.
"Not only has this afforded our officers more time to spend on serious crimes, but also, more time to work proactively in areas such as traffic enforcement and crime prevention."
The number of impaired driving charges increased by six per cent to 1,301, up from 1,216, the 36-page report shows.
Meanwhile, the number of people killed in collisions involving alcohol dropped to 15 in 2011, from 33 the year before.
The number of child exploitation-related charges jumped 49 per cent to 57, up from 29 the year before, while drug enforcement charges increased by 11 per cent to 2,032, compared to 1,828 in 2010.
The rate of crime against persons remained relatively stable in 2011 at 9,339, compared to 9,410 the year before, while property crime rates increased slightly to 16,446, up from 15,734.
11 districts to merge to 3
This year, the RCMP will start moving toward a new provincial policing model that will see 11 policing districts reduced to three, plus the existing Codiac Regional RCMP.
"Like everyone, the RCMP is dealing with today’s fiscal reality," said Lang. "We continue to assess our service delivery to optimize our effectiveness."
The changes are expected to occur over the next 18 to 24 months.
The new western district will run from the New Brunswick-Quebec border down to and including Charlotte County, encompassing Oromocto District 2, which serves the Fredericton area, officials have said.
A new southeast district will cover the Moncton area, including District 3 and up to District 5, which is the Richibucto area.
The new northeast district will include Campbellton, the Acadian Peninsula and Miramichi.
Codiac Regional RCMP, which serves Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe, remains unchanged.
The re-organization is related to the Alward government's recent property taxes announcement.
Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch had said a new cost-sharing model for RCMP services would more fairly distribute costs among all users.
Crime severity index data for 2012 is expected to be available in July 2013.
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