Berwick asks where RCMP were when Harley Lawrence died

Friends of the homeless man found dead earlier this week in the small Nova Scotia town ofBerwick are raising concerns about policing.

Harley Lawrence, 62, died in afire early Wednesday morning at a bus shelter. RCMP have called hisdeath suspicious.

The building that once housed the Berwick RCMP detachment is right across the street from the bus shelter.

The detachment closed two years ago. Now some are questioning the towns decision to reducepolice presence, as thenearest detachment is now 15 minutes away in Kingston.

"People around here know they have a certain amount of time before a police officer is going to be here, said Walter Dodge, who was friends with Lawrence.

Fifteen to 20 minutes, they can do a crime and be out."

Another of Lawrences friends said he believes the death could have been prevented had more police officers been on the streets ofBerwick.

"I'd like to see somebod y... to have justice back and a cop station back inBerwick, AnthonyDoucettesaid.The routine back, the cop station.

But Berwick Mayor Don Clarke defendedthe move, saying it was about reorganization, not budget belt-tightening.

The BerwickRCMP detachment, when it was open, wasnt staffed overnight, he points out. The fire at the bus shelter occurred around 2 a.m.

The town partnered with Kings County as part of a regional police service. Clarke said it means the town now gets better response times in the evening and overnight.

Officers are on duty at whatever time, he said.

They arrive here in their car, they work out of their car, they go off duty. So we get them on the job the full shift, whatever that happens to be.

Clarke said he hasnt noticed an increase in crime in the town.