Kimberley RCMP presented their third quarter report for 2018/2019 to City Council this week, and findings show that the local detachment nabbed more impaired drivers in 2018 than the previous three years combined.
Sgt. Chris Newel says that approximately 25 per cent of all calls for service are traffic related. From October 1 to December 21, 2018, there were 452 calls for service.
In 2018 Kimberley RCMP had over 700 traffic contacts, which is 35 per cent more than the previous year. In addition, 119 impaired drivers were removed from the road and the detachment conducted approximately 100 road checks.
READ MORE: Police investigating break and enter at the Kimberley Civic Centre
Despite the high number of impaired drivers, Newel says that Kimberley has one of the lowest crime rates per thousand in the province.
“I think that the healthy lifestyle in Kimberley contributes to those low crime rates,” he said.
The Bulletin also reported this week that a Kimberley resident was arrested for trafficking after cocaine was seized during a vehicle stop.
READ MORE: Kimberley resident arrested for trafficking
Newel says that the work of the crime reduction unit helps to find prolific offenders and take drugs off the street.
“Our Kimberley/Cranbrook Crime Reduction unit is always busy,” wrote Newel in the report. “They have been successful in investigating, apprehending and charging subjects from both Cranbrook and Kimberley.”
He adds that there are currently four people in Kimberley on court ordered conditions that the local detachment is monitoring.
“These conditions range from house arrest to curfews. Random checks are done at various times and days. The Crime Reduction unit also assists in monitoring the subjects,” Newel explained.
corey.bullock@kimberleybulletin.com
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