'Hard hand' approach

Lately, I’ve been thinking about our Kelowna RCMP and some observations I’ve made over the years.

I’ve dealt with RCMP on several occasions and few instances stick in my mind. About 20 years ago, when I was in high school, our house was burglarized. I made a conscious effort not to touch anything expecting the police to take finger prints.

Well was I wrong, (the officer) took a report and didn’t touch a thing. When asked why, he said the forensic team was at the former mayor’s house investigating stolen patio furniture.

About a year later my house was broken into again and same thing, didn’t touch a thing, this time I didn’t bother to ask. I personally know three drug dealers who have operated with impunity in Kelowna for decades. I will concede that from time to time the RCMP stumble into a drug bust or buy bust, but it’s my firm opinion that the Kelowna RCMP does not proactively investigate drug dealers.

When I think of these instances and read that Kelowna has the highest crime rate in the country, frankly, I’m not surprised. You literally take your life in your hands when walking downtown any time of the day. It’s an open sewer as far as I'm concerned.

Giving drug addicts drugs and a place to “spike” up isn’t a viable solution. My suggestion would be a hard hand approach. Take their dope, coke and arrest them. Jail cells are great detox facilities. People are watched 24/7 and given the assistance they need.

To add insult to injury, we have a police chief telling me I don’t know how to read statistics. Well read this, why don’t you try walking the Rail Trail alone at night and we’ll see how that goes for you?

It’s time to put our foot down as a community and get crime under control.

Matt Irnie, Kelowna