Public safety is not at risk as Creighton RCMP grapple with a temporary staffing shortage.
That’s the word from Sgt. Mark Svaren, who hopes to see his detachment back at full strength within a few months.
The detachment has seen three of its six officers move away or take leave. Constables Scott Stuart and James Jean-Louis have transferred to other communities, while a third officer is on parental leave.
Svaren said the detachment has welcomed one new permanent member, Cst. Josh Goodwin, and relied on assistance from short-term relief officers from other parts of Saskatchewan.
Creighton has also received help from Flin Flon-based Mounties opting to work at the detachment on their days off, Svaren said.
The officer on parental leave is due to return next month, he said, with the remaining vacancy to hopefully be occupied by the spring.
Svaren said a candidate has been named to fill the vacancy, but several factors will determine when the officer can report for duty.
He said public safety is not a concern, but the staffing shortage has hindered his detachment’s ability to participate in proactive measures such as school presentations and a program for impaired drivers.
Svaren said the detachment can work around a single vacancy while at full strength, but the challenges accumulate when multiple vacancies occur simultaneously.
Svaren updated Creighton town council on the staffing situation last week. He also reported that crime in Creighton in November 2014 was down compared to November 2013.
