Gang and traffic police were both in La Ronge in recent weeks. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

RCMP Update

No change in illegal cannabis sales since legalization: La Ronge RCMP

Feb 28, 2019 | 5:01 PM

La Ronge RCMP Staff Sgt. Kyle Watson took questions at a regular town council meeting Wednesday about the ongoing work at the detachment.

During a recent traffic blitz by provincial RCMP officers in the tri-communities last week, he stated there were 116 summary offence ticket information (SOTI) tickets issued, which included 16 suspended drivers and 16 unregistered tickets. Four people were also arrested on outstanding warrants and there was one impersonation charge after a motorist used someone else’s drivers licence during a traffic stop. A further 156 warnings were handed out and six vehicles were impounded.

“The traffic section is getting out to these areas and they’re doing it much more frequently,” he said, stating officers travel as far as Southend during the blitz. “We don’t always know until they show up.”

In regards to the legalization of cannabis, Watson stated he thought now there would have been a decrease in the illegal sale of cannabis, but it hasn’t happened yet. He noted his main concern is a rise in the number of impaired drivers, adding the detachment has two officers who are trained to spot impairment. Watson also believes there’s a lack of education surrounding marijuana, which could lead to more impaired drivers.

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Aside from traffic police, Watson also told council officers training in investigating gang-related crime have also been in the tri-communities as recently as last week.

“I can’t get into too many details,” he said. “We’ve actually had a lot going on in the background. We had quite a few different agencies involved.”

Watson has also recently reached out to Scattered Site as the detachment and the organization are coming into contact with the same clientele. He said it’s not always a criminal matter, but rather inebriated residents with no place to go. Watson was in contact with community outreach worker Modeste McKenzie to come up with ideas to reduce the number of individuals coming in contact with police.

“We’re criminalizing a social behaviour, which we’re trying to change that mentality,” Watson said. “What are some other organizations who can help us address those issues? It takes time away from police officers to deal with something that’s a social issue.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno