WHO YOU GONNA CALL?
At the August regular council meeting, Sackville town councillor Bill Evans took some time to ask about how Sackvillians should be calling the police. He wasn’t referring to emergencies, but rather the difficulty in getting through when reporting non-emergencies where time is still of the essence.
“I don’t think I’ve ever actually called 911, but I’ve never heard anyone complain that that’s not quick,” said Evans. “The problem comes when you want to report something that’s timely—you see an ATV on the street or you see someone speeding or whatever. Who do you call?”
The number for the Southeast District RCMP’s Sackville detachment is listed as 506-364-5023, and more often than not it will take you to an automated system for the Southeast District, which after some time, will put you though to an operator who can take your information and even possibly put you through to a detachment.
When CHMA asked Constable Brian Villers, he recommended a call to 506-533-5151, which is the number listed online for the Shediac detachment of the Southeast District. He said whether or not your call gets picked up depends on who is on duty and what’s happening at the time. People can also call a provincial number, 1-888-506-RCMP (7267) to get dispatched to a detachment.
Evans encouraged citizens to report issues of concern to the police. “We should report things if we expect them to deal with them,” he told council.
Councillor Sabine Dietz said she has found the wait to get through discouraging, and that on weekends, she is likely to reach someone on duty in Shediac instead of Sackville.
RCMP LOOK FOR DRIVER WHO STRUCK PEDESTRIAN
The Southeast District RCMP are still looking for the driver of a dark coloured Chevy Impala who struck a pedestrian while leaving the parking lot at the Independent grocery store on Main Street on August 7. The pedestrian was walking on the sidewalk at the time they were struck, and was not injured.
There were two other motor vehicle collisions so far in August. On August 3, a single vehicle lost control and went off the road near Folkins Drive. The driver was not injured and no charges were laid.
A two-car collision in Port Elgin on August 14 is still being investigated by police.
One person was found driving while impaired and their license was suspended for seven days.
MARCH PEDESTRIAN COLLISION ENDS WITH FINE
A driver who struck a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk back on the morning of March 4 has been charged and issued a summary offence ticket for failure to yield to a pedestrian.
A Sackville woman in her late 60’s was crossing Wellington Street at Main in the early morning when a driver turned left onto Wellington struck her. The victim was taken to hospital with injuries.
The driver, a woman in her 70’s, remained on the scene.
BREAK AND ENTERS AND THEFTS HIGH IN JULY
According to daily occurrence reports published online, the Sackville detachment area underwent a rash of break and enters in July. Eight incidents are listed, seven at businesses, and one at a residence. Two of the incidents involved thefts.
There were another eight occurrence reports in July involving thefts, four related to vehicle thefts. In August, another vehicle was reported stolen.
So far in August, a stolen trailer and two stolen vehicles have been recovered. Two people were arrested as other stolen property was recovered on August 4, though charges have not yet been laid.
Break and enters into businesses were reported on July 2, 4, 6, 8, 20, 21 and 25. A residential break-in was reported July 28, with someone arrested and released pending a future court appearance. Police dog services were used to apprehend the suspect.
VIOLENT OFFENCES, MISSING PERSONS, AND MENTAL HEALTH CALLS
So far in August the RCMP have reported one incident of sexual assault and one incident of domestic violence in the Sackville detachment area. Police reported one incident of sexual assault in July and two in June. There were two incidents of domestic violence reported in May, with two arrests made. Each time, the person arrested was released on conditions pending a court hearing.
(It’s worth noting that sexual assault remains a highly under-reported crime. The 2014 General Social Survey counted only 5% of sexual assaults reported to police.)
There were three incidents involving missing persons in August, with two located safely.
The RCMP reports a number of calls involving mental health crises throughout the summer. Since June 1 there have been 17 calls involving an “individual in mental distress” and four wellbeing checks. Often, people in mental distress are transported to hospital, according to the reports.
The Sackville detachment area stretches from the Rockport peninsula to Memramcook to Cape Tormentine.
There have been 23 occurrence reports in the Sackville detachment so far in August. There were 37 occurrence reports in July, and 41 in June.
