It was a busy year for RCMP in La Ronge.
In its latest statistical report, Mounties said there were just over 13,000 calls for service, up 150 from a year ago.
Drug offenses topped the list at 2430 calls, followed by business break and enters at 1617 calls.
“Drugs and alcohol continue to be a concern for the La Range detachment with calls for service regularly seeing Liquor related offences or where alcohol is also a primary contributing factor in the criminal code offences that members deal with. Public intoxication in La Range continues to be a visible problem that generates regular calls for service to deal with individuals in public spaces and in the downtown area. If warranted, an individual can be incarcerated until sober however this doesn’t not address this longstanding issue,” the report read.
“Another area of concern that alcohol seems to have an impact on, in mental health calls and mental health transports. Over the course of 2023, La Range detachment dealt with 401 mental health related calls for service that on many occasions results in members being required to transport the individual to Prince Albert for assessment. This takes a member (s) out of the community for nearly the duration of their shift and has an overall impact on community safety.”
Last year, just over 2350 people were logged into cells.
“To address property crime, the primary mechanism is through the Prolific Offender Management Program. Members have conducted 378 Curfew checks over this third quarter and have laid 68 fail to comply charges on those who have not abided by the conditions they are on. Despite a high rate of calls for service, members focused more on condition checks this past quarter. Property related offences have remained similar from the previous year,” stated the report.
Criminal and traffic offenses rounded out the top four calls for service in La Ronge in 2023.
The detachment will see new leadership as Staff SGT Dean Bridle has accepted a new position in Regina. He will soon be replaced by Dereck Eberle.