RCMP needs to be more visible, Codiac policing authority told

A retired member of the the Codiac RCMP thinks more needs to be done to improve police visibility, staffing, and transparency in the region.

Terry McKee appeared in front of a monthly meeting of the Codiac Regional Policing Authority, which oversees policingin Moncton, Dieppeand Riverview.

McKee used the five minutes allotted to him as a member of the publicto detail issues he has with policing in the Codiac region. Alack of police visibility in the region is one of his concerns.

"No one sees a patrol car in their neighbourhood, unless the police are tending to a call," said McKee, pointing outmany people he knows have echoed his concerns.

McKee said hethinks thelack of visibility is a result of inadequate staffing and that it gives people more opportunities to commit crimes.

However, MonctonCoun.Charles Leger, who is a member of the policing authority, said that just becausesomeone isn't seeing RCMP patrols, it doesn't mean they're not there.

"I do believe there is a difference too as I mentioned between visually seeing something, versus not knowing whether or not a police vehicle for example was in my community," said Leger.

'A perfect storm'

Speaking outside the meeting, McKee elaborated on his concerns and said he felt having more officers on duty could have helpedpreventthe shooting deaths of three RCMPofficers and wounding of two others by Justin Bourque.

"Primarily, I believe that if there was more supervisors that would have been available, more staff being available, more training given, the proper equipment being utilized that it may very well have prevented deaths" said McKee.

McKee has been critical of the Codiac RCMP's response to the Moncton shootings before.

A former supervising officer of two of the slain constables, McKee says the lack of enough staff, including supervisors, created "a perfect storm" on the night of June 4, 2014.

Nick LeBlanc, the policing authoritychairman,refused to comment on the Moncton shootings.

"That's Mr. McKee's feelings.I'm not going to elaborate any further on the incident on June 4," he said.

But Leger concededit was likely time for another review of staffing levels of the Codiac RCMP, since the previous study in 2012 may not account for changes in daily RCMP operations in the region.

"I think we need to be open to looking at that, and certainly that's the direction that I feel personally," said Leger.