The RCMP are looking to fix staffing shortages across the province and the Prairies.
Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy is the Commanding Officer of the RCMP in Manitoba. He says it's no secret we need more officers.
“We have a number of vacancies across the RCMP jurisdiction in all of our areas, more focused in northern Manitoba. Overall, we're running about 15% vacancies where don't have officers in in identified positions.”
McMurchy says though this issue is more prevalent in northern communities, it can be felt across the rest of province.
McMurchy says they have both short- and long-term plans to handle vacancies. He notes his management team here in Manitoba is already providing internal relief to ensure they have enough resources in areas that are critically short staffed.
In addition, he says “I made a request to Ottawa, to our national headquarters for some additional relief from outside of the division,” adding, “I've asked for some help from experienced officers from outside the division to come to Manitoba and just give us a hand, give my folks and my employees a bit of a break, an opportunity to catch their breath, or an opportunity to get on investigations that may take a little bit more time."
As an effort to increase recruitment numbers coming out of COVID, McMurchy says the RCMP offered applicants preferred posting which means they could pre-pick where they would be posted upon graduation.
“That was a great benefit to get our overall numbers up in terms of people applying and joining the RCMP, but it has been a bit of a detriment to the smaller or medium sized divisions such as Manitoba.”
With the shortages we are now experiencing, McMurchy says these policies are changing.
“Manitoba and some other areas are becoming prioritized at that national level, so I am told that men and women interested in joining the RCMP and serving in Manitoba, their applications are to be fast tracked. They'll be prioritized.”
McMurchy thanks the community for the continued support they feel.