La Ronge RCMP have made changes to protect themselves and the public. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

enforcement

La Ronge RCMP breaking up groups, visit First Nations checkpoints

Apr 3, 2020 | 1:35 PM

Officers at the La Ronge RCMP detachment are responding to calls for service regarding individuals still hosting parties in their homes despite the pandemic.

“We are getting those calls both on day shift and night shift of some people who do continue to have parties or some people who are engaged in gatherings beyond what the public health order allows,” Acting-Staff Sgt. Josh Hallett said. “So, we take those calls at the detachment, and we respond to them and investigate them in the same way we would any investigation.”

When officers respond to such calls, Hallett mentioned the first approach taken is voluntary compliance and education. If residents won’t follow the public health orders, he said officers will then enforce the rules and regulations.

In an RCMP press release issued Thursday, it was revealed officers across the province have had hundreds of calls for service regarding COVID-19. Between March 26 to 31, there were 57 calls for non-compliance for social gatherings of no more than 10 resulting in seven warnings and one charge laid. There were another 110 complaints of people failing to self-isolated when required and 13 complaints of businesses not following orders.

“We’ve certainly been out and about patrolling and responding to any calls that come in that relate to the public health order,” Hallett said. “We are making our way out to the check stops that some of our Indigenous partners are doing on the reserve, and just keeping in contact with them as well to make sure they have everything they need and if there is any way we can help them. We want to make ourselves available that way as well.”

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There have been a number of changes at the La Ronge detachment in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Protective gear such as specific respiratory masks and N95 masks have been issued to all officers, shifts have been staggered and changes have been made to policies. Extra cleaning is also being done inside and outside of police vehicles, around workstations and the cellblock.

Acting-Staff Sgt. Josh Hallett said protective gear has been issued to all officers. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Hallett added some employees are working from home, while others are at the main detachment and the smaller office on the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s 101 Reserve.

“We are taking extra precautions when we do get called to situations to make sure we still maintain social distancing when possible,” he said. “We’re asking those questions as well, just for our own safety before we respond to a call and for the safety of people who we are dealing with to see if they have any symptoms or anything like that before we head into a situation.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno