Codiac Regional RCMP Superintendent Tom Critchlow found himself answering questions for more topics than he probably would have liked to at Monday’s City Council Meeting.
Councillors first questioned the recent COVID-19 case of an RCMP member. The officer of the Codiac detachment is believed to have been infected after reporting to an incident where an individual was carrying the virus.
Critchlow indicated that a plan is being developed for a scenario where a mass number of officers were infected. He later noted that there was a plan in place after concern was expressed by Deputy Mayor Shawn Crossman.
Crossman believes that all emergency services must have a solution if they lose staff to COVID. He says that continuing to wear a mask, social distance and follow Public Health guidelines will make it easier for first responders to do their jobs safely.
City Officials followed up with inquiries about the rise in theft and homeless encampments in different pockets of the city.
Communities have raised concerns over the presence of an increased amount of homeless individuals can have. Some property owners have found people living on their land with structures they assembled themselves.
Councillor Bryan Butler, who received calls from concerned Monctonians, says the actions to take are simple, “If you see something that’s going on and you think it’s suspicious, please call the RCMP.”
However, the RCMP Superintendent had a different solution to the problem.
“If I was a landowner and someone was squatting on my property, I would engage in a conversation and say why are you there and what are you doing?” said Critchlow.
The anti-mask protests were also a brief talking point Critchlow touched on as there was a decrease in people that did not adhere to the rules.
