The top cop in Kamloops says he is looking forward to working with the new Community Safety Unit in Kamloops, after the bylaw department was restructured to help it better handle social issues.

Syd Lecky says he has been in touch with city staff about the potential for partnerships between the two organizations.

“I do see the potential for a really good working relationship taking some of the pressures off of us,” he said on the NL Morning News. “Whether its illegal camping or some of the more challenging more bylaw complaints that aren’t the most pleasant to deal with, and sometimes you need a little bit of support to get that action done.”

Mayor Ken Christian previously told NL News that street issues have negatively affected businesses and that has required an inordinate amount of police time to handle.

“Bylaw officers traditionally have been involved in parking control and dog control, and that was in a kinder and gentler time,” Christian said last month. “And now there are a lot of social issues on our streets, and we need help in terms of dealing with people and pointing them in the right direction.”

Christian notes the restructuring move was first discussed not long after the B.C. government expanded the authority of bylaw officers as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If there are things that the new Community Safety Unit can do that we can work together with them on and help support and get efficiencies, absolutely,” Lecky added. “We’re confident that that is a possibility and yes, I have been consulted on some aspects of it.”

“I do see lots of opportunity here for things to be really good.”