Click here to sign up for our daily newsletter
Staff Sgt. Dean Bridle became the detachment commander in August. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)
staffing changes

New detachment commander no stranger to La Ronge

Sep 30, 2020 | 5:10 PM

It’s been just more than one month now since Staff Sgt. Dean Bridle took over as detachment commander at the La Ronge RCMP detachment.

His official first day in La Ronge was Aug. 17 after he arrived from his homein Swift Current, where he was responsible for seven detachments under the South District Management Team. His wife still lives in Swift Current and operates a business there.

“It’s been taking a little while to get caught up on the operations and getting to know the community again,” Bridle said. “I was stationed here back in 1996, so I know the area fairly well, it’s just a matter of getting caught back up.”

Bridle explained the detachment in La Ronge is quite busy and he wants to continue working on strategic priorities as identified in the station’s annual performance plan (APP). He noted crime reduction, community engagement, road safety and traffic are all areas of concern.

The APP, he continued, is updated every April and is done so in consultation with election officials in the tri-communities.

“I want to make sure those are being followed up on and make sure they are working and, if they’re not, we need to revisit them with how to steer the operations to achieve overall community safety and wellness,” Bridle said.

The La Ronge detachment current has 26 officers employed with a couple of vacancies due to parental leave or other matters. He mentioned just recently he received the results from the General Duty Police Resource Methodology Study, which showed La Ronge needing at least 10 more officers to operate proactively. Bridle is hopeful those positions could be filled in the future, but if not it could take quite some time to achieve.

He was also impressed with the Town of La Ronge’s commitment to the RCMP through the enhanced policing contract. The municipality pays for three additional officers, who then must spent part of their time attending to matters outlined my council.

“Those three positions can direct their duties more so to doing increased patrols throughout the community, foot patrols downtown, engage with the businesses to see what their needs and wants are, and how they would like to see the police roll out their services in the business sector,” he said.

In the months ahead, Bridle is looking forward to getting involved with the community more. He noted during his short time back, some residents still remember him from his initial posting.

“It’s grown since I was here in 1996, but it really hasn’t changed that much,” he said. “It’s a beautiful community, there’s lots to do here and I’m looking forward to getting out and doing some fall fishing.”

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno