Overall calls to the Sicamous RCMP have seen a small increase, but it's the number of impaired drivers that is cause for concern with Sgt. Murray McNeil.

At the May 14 Committee of the Whole meeting, McNeil presented his quarterly report with the crime statistics for January to March, with total calls at 500 over the 429 last year, while roadside suspensions were 215 and impaired charges jumped to 27.

鈥淭he impaired driving initiative continues to be on the increase. These numbers are big for the community... a total of 27. That鈥檚 very high, that鈥檚 quite significant,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here were 17 for the quarter the previous year and six for 2023, so a big increase there.鈥�

In response to a previously submitted petition claiming property crimes are on the rise as well, McNeil they're generally status quo over the last few years, and actually saw a decrease for this quarter down to 110 instances from 120 last year and 102 before that.

鈥淪o there鈥檚 no substantial increase in the property crime that we鈥檝e experienced this year in the community,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 slightly down from last year, but it鈥檚 not rampant, it鈥檚 not exponentially increased.鈥�

In regards to staffing, McNeil said one constable is still off duty because of injury, but the department has a new officer who started his policing career in Sicamous last November, Const. Jason Woroby, who is now signed off and "passed his recruit field training so he's fully onboard with us." McNeil added that another member will soon be joining to cover the injury leave.

鈥淚 have confirmation from our staff that we鈥檙e getting another member, an experienced member from the Williams Lake area," McNeil reported. "His transfer has been approved and he will be... back filling in the injured member鈥檚 position because we don鈥檛 have a definitive return date for that member. So he鈥檚 coming onboard to assist us鈥︹��

Sicamous will then have six full-time members for 鈥渢he full complement鈥� with McNeil, one corporal and four constables.