If all goes to plan, the RM of Ritchot should have an added layer of safety and bylaw enforcement come spring. At this stage, applications are being reviewed for Ritchot’s first official Community Safety Officer (CSO).
According to CAO Shane Ray, administration has narrowed the search down to two applicants.
“We are currently in the process and hope to have someone in place before April,” says Ray.
He is unable to disclose just how many applications were received. He can say, though, that the decision by council to hire a CSO was made prior to his onboarding a year ago.
Once the full-time position is filled, the CSO program will run in conjunction with the Commissionaires, hired by the RM to patrol its communities. As time goes on, Ray says that administrators will monitor and evaluate each program and make adjustments as needed.
Depending on their level of experience, the new hire can anticipate an annual salary of between $69,758 and $81,606. As well, they’ll receive paid vacation and the same benefits package as other municipal employees.
According to Ray, there are no provincial subsidies or grants available for this program, even though it’s provincially regulated and endorsed.
The vehicle in which the CSO will patrol the municipality’s communities will be provided by the RM.
To be eligible, the candidate must have a minimum of three years of experience in law enforcement, security, or public service. They must hold, or be prepared to complete, provincial safety officer induction training.
Finally, bilingual status and cultural sensitivity training are assets.
“The municipality of Ritchot is looking for someone to champion community safety by enforcing municipal and provincial regulations, fostering partnerships, and supporting initiatives that create a secure and welcoming environment for all residents,” the application says. “The CSO will work closely with law enforcement, government agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure compliance, promote safety programs, and enhance quality of life in Ritchot.”
The officer will patrol neighbourhoods and perform inspections and investigations as needed to ensure that bylaws are upheld. As well, they’ll provide oversight for community safety initiatives and supervise animal control.
Guidelines for community safety programs such as this one fall under the jurisdiction of Manitoba Justice.
“The program forms part of a continuum of policing that adds a flexible, layered approach to enforcement,” the program manual states. “Given that some situations do not require police officers, layered policing engages individuals with diverse levels of training and authority, allowing law enforcement to focus their expertise on more complex policing and investigations.”
At council’s March 3 public meeting, Staff Sargeant Ron Poirier of the St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP detachment took a moment to endorse Ritchot’s CSO initiative.
“I’ve actually been selling your process to some of the other RMs,” Poirier told council. “I think there’s interest… and I’d like to see the program expand elsewhere as well. Good on you guys for making that happen.”