“I might have dropped the ball about communicating what is happening at the detachment” says Superintendent Kevin Hewco in a candid conversation with reporters outside the RDOS building in Penticton Thursday.
At the root of that comment was a meeting two weeks ago when some politicians appeared surprised when Al Sismey of the regional Crimestoppers programme said he was being asked to take on parts of the community policing job – against his wishes.
Hewco was on holidays a couple of weeks ago but has now completed two in-camera meetings explaining to politicians (Penticton councillors and RDOS directors) on exactly what his thinking is and what his recommendations are.
Hewco says “whenever I take over a new assignment we conduct an efficiency and effectiveness survey that gathers information on what can change to attain a better run organization.
Superintendent Hewco says that in his opinion more of a community policing role could be done by Crimestoppers and he is committed to a full time officer being assigned to Community Policing in Penticton.
The presentation by Hewco today was in-camera and private but he revealed what he had said in part at the conclusion of meeting.
Mayor Garry Litke indicated that the air had been cleared (pictured above Hewco and Litke outside the meeting chamber having words) but the RDOS will have to decide how to proceed as funding for Crimestoppers is from the entire regional district.
Today’s in-camera meeting of the Protective Services committee was requested by the police. Hewco says he got to state his side of the story.
(see previous story below)
Penticton Western reporter Joe Fries (left) talks with Crimestoppers’ regional coordinator Al Sismey at RDOS meeting March 6th.
Perplexed and confused – Penticton politicians were today after hearing from Sismey that the local police want to absorbed the Crimestoppers Tip Line into regular RCMP operations.
That came as some surprise to Penticton Mayor Garry Litke who says he will meet Monday with RCMP Superintendent Kevin Hewco about the RCMP plans to reshape their operations.
Litke said he wants to get both sides of the story.
Penticton Mayor Garry Litke suggested the RCMP can’t unilaterally restructure an independent position that’s funded by the RDOS.
“How can they do that if we’re the boss? As far as I’m aware there has been no consultation with this board about that particular move,” said Litke, who’s also an RDOS director.
The Mayor says the Community Policing site at the “Peach” is being closed and operations centralized in the RCMP station on Main Street and he understands some changes are being talked about when it comes to crime prevention but he was taken aback to hear that Crimestoppers (funded by the Regional District) could be absorbed. Other board members showed their support for the program run by Sismey which involves a tip line and social media/press coverage of people wanted by the police and courts on warrants.
Sismey, a former policeman, says it is essential that the tip line and the confidentiality stay in the hands of civilians with a society that does not allow politicians or police to serve in governance.
Litke says he wouldn’t want to see a headline “Police thrown under the bus” but he does want to get to the bottom of the story.