Both the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association (KCBIA) and the North Shore Business Improvement Association (NSBIA) are happy to with plans from the City to set up new satellite offices for Community Services Officers.
The KCBIA’s Executive Director, Howie Reimer, tells NL News he is also pleased to see the downtown location at the old CAP team office at 340 Victoria Street.
“We’re very encouraged that it is going to be right in the heart, right in the middle of Victoria Street, right smack dab in the middle of the KCBIA,” he said. “And the fact that they are going to be doing increased patrols, that there will be patrols after the stores close, that is very encouraging as well.”
“Anything is a great help. We know that police resources are stretched at a time when they might not be able to provide extra patrols. We also do have our CAP team and expect to increase patrols there but this is welcome news.”
Reimer adds while he was hoping to see this office open sooner, he says he will be glad when it officially happens sometime in the next few months.
“You can see that they have been doing work there so it is February and it is in the process of getting done. It is just not quite as quick as we’d like but you know when the spring and the sun comes out, and more people, it’ll be nice to have that service, nice and close.”
Over on the North Shore, NSBIA Executive Director, Jeremy Heighton, says the office at a yet to be disclosed location on the Tranquille corridor will help proactively deal with issues like loitering, vandalism, and theft.
“I think that there is still some negotiations going on around lands and leases and stuff, so we can’t necessarily say where it will be. However, I can say that having the CSO office on the North Shore, in the Tranquille Corridor, near an area where we tend to have a lot of challenges will be a blessing,” Heighton said.
“Having the office in that central corridor area will be a step up for our community.”
While Community Services Manager, Tammy Blundell, tells NL News the goal is to have these satellite offices ready over the next three to four months, Heighton says the North Shore office could open as soon as next month.
“I think it depends on what kind of work needs to be done to whatever site they secure,” he said. “There are a lot of older buildings that would probably require some refitting but assuming that the lease is secured forthwith, it would be probably still be a couple of weeks before they could get somebody in there.”
But he says he’s looking forward to the day the office opens, whenever that is.
“Having boots on the ground in the area is very very valuable,” Heighton added.
“I think both downtown and here on the Tranquille Corridor, we’re going to be very very well served by the CSO offices. So we are really thankful to the city for engaging the CSO services at this level.”
