By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Oct. 23, 2012
The Community Policing Office (CPO) will re-open on Cleveland Avenue in downtown Squamish after being closed since November 2010.
A re-opening date, however, has not yet been set by the district, although required building upgrades will be completed by the end of November.
I look forward to having the Community Policing Office doors re-open to assist our residents, business operators and visitors,” said Kathryn Hennigar, Community Policing Coordinator.
The CPO office originally opened in 2005 and was closed in November 2010 because it did not meet RCMP safety standards to ensure the safety of staff and volunteers working there.
RCMP had requested upgrades to include a new glass barrier at the counter including a new wall around the counter, door upgrades, door hardware upgrades and networking upgrades.
The upgrades will be complete by the end of November. The office will re-open once the RCMP conducts its final inspection, and computer networking is complete.
The re-opening of the CPO will provide the police with yet another avenue to work collaboratively with citizen to address public safety concerns, said Sergeant Wayne Pride.
The District of Squamish also has plans to include a Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control presence in the CPO.
Hennigar will launch a search this week for volunteers to help staff the office.
“We’re looking for customer service driven individuals who hold community safety and crime prevention in high regard to become part of our dedicated team,” says Hennigar.
Training will be provided and volunteers must be older than 16. Those interested should call 604.815.8134 or visit the RCMP Detachment at 1000 Finch Drive to complete an application.
The CPO provides a wide range of services and programs to Squamish residents, acting as an extension of the main RCMP Detachment building on Finch Drive.
Programs such as Business Link, Block Watch, Crime Stoppers and Speed Watch, plus education and awareness campaigns on topics as diverse as seniors’ safety, drugs and alcohol dependency, and car seat safety, are all coordinated through the CPO.
Larry Murray says
This is indeed good news to build safety and security features into the urban growth of the inner core of any community that is growing.
Well Done Council and RCMP.
Eric Andersen says
In my opinion, use of this (Telus) building location for a police office – instead of for retail, or a gallery – is a mistake. Cleveland Avenue needs all the help it can get as location for a nice cluster of shops and storefonts. The better location for a community policing office would have been Second Avenue.
Christine Elliott says
That’s really good news!
Working downtown on Cleveland for the past 12 years often late into the night, I see the bad people coming out at night to get up to mischief.
It would be great if the police officers could be present in the evening. It was suggested by a friend who is a Vancouver City Police Officer, that they do their paper work at the Cleveland location in the evening so they will have a presence.