Reserve Constable and watch group keeping Christina Lake safe in summer

Karl Yu

Chris Cottrill is a 30-year vet of the RCMP will be the reserve constable at Christina Lake until the end of August.

With Christina Lake's population booming in the summer, the RCMP will maintain a presence in the area until the end of August to deal with increased calls.

Const. Chris Cottrill, a retired 30-year veteran of the RCMP, is the reserve constable stationed at the lake, and has been on-duty since Canada Day.

"I'm to be a visible presence around Christina Lake both on the water and around town. I check the parks and other areas, beachfront access etc.," explained Cottrill.

Grand Forks RCMP's Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison said that the position is one that has been filled for the last few years and Cottrill has the power of a regular police officer despite only working for two months.

"It's a special program that has been going on for about six or seven years and basically it allows us to, if we can obtain funding from municipal or provincial or regional district sources, hire the reserve constable, who has the full authority and status as a peace officer," Harrison explained.

"It's not like an auxiliary constable at all, he's basically a regular police officer."

Cottrill says that while he hasn't had to deal with any major problems yet - only a couple of drinking and driving infractions, party nights and a car accident - he has handed out boating-related tickets thanks to the new boating licence rules.

He has been patrolling Christina Lake with the RCMP's Zodiac boat since July 8.

"Of 60-some boats I've looked at, in the last week and a half, there's only been one or two that have been given tickets but there's been quite a few that have been given 'warning' tickets for not having their boating registration on board."

Harrison says that Christina Lake is not considered a problem area but there are increased calls for service because of summer visitors and a reserve officer is something area residents were calling for.

"The need was identified by the people at Christina Lake and Grace MacGregor, the Area C representative for the RDKB (Regional District of the Kootenay Boundary)," he said.

Cottrill won't be the only one patrolling the streets either as Harrison says that Christina Lake also has a Citizens on Patrol watch group.

"It's a brand new program started on July 1. I worked with the patrol myself, personally, in doing their training prior to and getting them up and running," said the Staff Sgt.

"They're up and going, a good enthusiastic bunch and from what I understand, doing a good job out there."

Harrison says that the Citizens on Patrol group's job is to "observe, record and report" and not to become involved in any situation.

"There simply there to call it in and let us know," he said.

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