(September 17, 2021) – PC Official Opposition Leader and MHA for Conception Bay East – Bell Island, David Brazil, today demanded to know the status of RCMP community policing in the province.

He was responding to the latest news that the Port aux Basques detachment of the RCMP was downgraded from 9 members to just 4 this summer. Brazil also noted that the Grand Bank RCMP building was closed earlier this year, and the Natuashish detachment recently moved to a “fly-in, fly-out” staffing model based out of Deer Lake.

Brazil says, “Citizens have noticed increased speeding and ATV use on roadways while police presence has disappeared. Many, especially seniors, worry about response times should an emergency arise. This is just the latest in the erosion of federal police presence in the province, yet we have not heard a sound from the Minister, our Provincial Government, or the various federal Liberal candidates running in the province.”

“It would appear budgets cuts are forcing the RCMP to discontinue local community policing. My question is where is the Minister? Why does the Provincial Government allow RCMP officers to be transferred out of NL communities with no replacements? What are they doing to help with recruitment and retention? Are we moving to regionally-based policing? This is simply not good enough and we need answers,” concluded Brazil.

Contacts:

Bradley Russell

Director of Communications and Digital Strategy

(p) 709-729-3668

BradleyRussell@gov.nl.ca

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