The community of Eastern Charlotte is exploring other options for policing services.
A motion by Coun. Darrell Tidd was unanimously approved by council last week.
Tidd said the community has seen an increase in vandalism, theft, violence and drug activity.
“We’re really getting very little results when it comes from the RCMP in regards to the community-based policing aspect,” Tidd said in an interview.
The councillor said his motion is in no way an attack on the national police force or its members.
Tidd said he knows the officers on the ground are doing the best they can with fewer resources.
“It’s more about the approach when it comes to community-based policing from the RCMP top-down,” he said.
“We’re trying to take a proactive approach in order to protect our community and the citizens. They’re demanding it and they deserve nothing less than that.”
Eastern Charlotte is not the first rural community in the province to look at other policing options besides the RCMP.
The communities of Carleton North and Hartland, north of Woodstock, are working to create a regional police force.
And councillors in St. Stephen have discussed the potential of hiring private security to conduct community patrols.
Tidd said his community, which includes Blacks Harbour and St. George, will pay $2.1 million for policing services this year.
That figure jumps to around $8 million when you include all communities from Lepreau to St. Stephen, he said.
Tidd said Eastern Charlotte plans to consult with neighbouring municipalities as they explore other policing options.
“We need to do this united. We can’t do it by ourselves with the infrastructure costs and things of that nature,” he said.
St. George and Blacks Harbour considered regional policing in 2014 but abandoned their efforts due to costs.
There are no timeframes on when any decisions surrounding policing options might be made.
Follow
