CAST team brings services needed to get off street
The solution to homelessness is getting people off the streets and into their own homes, says Penticton RCMP Supt. Ted De Jager.
De Jager rolled out details of a community active support table and the detachment’s regional priorities at a one-hour press briefing Wednesday.
CAST is a collaborative, risk-driven intervention model that works to quickly assist those who are at imminent risk of harm, victimization or criminality.
“It’s led by the police, but not meant to be police-led, but community-led,” De Jager told reporters. “It meets weekly and it’s all about intervention. From a community perspective, it’s a situation table that will work with those people who are elevated to being at risk and bring them the services they need to get off the street. That’s how you solve homelessness.”
Proposed partnerships for CAST include the City of Penticton, Penticton Indian Band, Downtown Penticton Association, Interior Health, and the school board, among others.
“It’s going to take a while to get moving, but everyone who can influence those people is going to be at that table. Maybe it’s the police, maybe it’s time to arrest that person and get them out of the community.”
De Jager noted a recent example where a man wanted on a warrant in Alberta was “put on a plane and we sent him back. He’s out of our community and he was a person who was causing some concerns here.”
De Jager admits he hears from citizens regularly about the homeless situation in the community.
He doesn’t believe the Okanagan Correctional Centre is causing an increase in crime, noting most inmates choose to return to their home communities once released.
“That’s where their support network is, that’s where they’re familiar with," he said.
Meanwhile, regional detachment priorities were also announced as being crime reduction, road safety, community engagement and modernization.
The list of policing priorities was presented to Penticton City Council earlier this week and De Jager will be making a similar presentation to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen today.
“We will have initiatives that are community specific. Things that concern Penticton might not concern Oliver and vice-versa,” he said.
Crime reduction priorities include targeting drug operations, prolific property offenders and violent offenders.
Road safety concerns include distracted and impaired drivers, speed enforcement and repeat offenders. Solutions include traffic safety blitzes in high-occurrence areas and speed enforcement through volunteer speed watch.
A recent community forum held in Penticton is an example of community engagement. Other engagement could come through an open house, enhanced patrol and a “coffee with a cop” morning.
Modernization priorities include improved call handling, city and business watch, and more engagement through online information and social media.
De Jager also introduced two new members of his team.
Const. James Grandy is the mental health intervention coordinator. He will also handle the majority of local media inquiries.
Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck, last posted in Invermere, is in charge of operational supports.