In response to widespread concerns in Logan Lake on policing changes, the BC RCMP say nothing will change in what the community will see.

RCMP communications director Dawn Roberts says between July and early September this year, officers in Logan Lake and Merritt will have their shifts overlap more for better support between the communities.

“If there’s anything going on, if they have some proactive time or if they’re able to respond to provide backup to their Merritt RCMP colleagues because of distance and proximity, then that would happen. And vice versa.”

Roberts was asked if there could ever be a case where no officer is patrolling in Logan Lake.

“It all comes down to what their dealing with. We would be able to me more fluid and flexible to adjust. Say if a member is called, we can see them on the dispatch, we know they’re at a location and we have another call in place. It will for more seamless efforts, behind the scenes. Because our intention is not to diminish the response or policing requirements in Logan Lake.”

Roberts says the RCMP’s intention is not to diminish the local policing response. In fact, she says with this change it would be more likely officers come from Merritt to assist in Logan Lake.

She says Logan Lake and Merritt have actually been sharing RCMP officers for some time and she says it has been seamless, noting the detachment commander position in Logan Lake is being filled right now by a corporal from Merritt.

About 100 people in Logan Lake filled municipal hall on Wednesday for a presentation from RCMP officials who explained the changes planned to policing in their community this summer. Mayor Robin Smith will be asking for a further community meeting with RCMP, after raising a number of concerns that people have with the changes.