Image: RCMP / Agassiz RCMP Constable Kyle Coole, who is also a volunteer firefighter with the Popkum Fire Department east of Chilliwack, joined fellow Constable Berthier Kyobela in patrolling the waters of Harrison Lake and the surrounding areas over the Victoria Day long weekend this past week. The two constables visited areas like Camp Cove group campsite, Limbert Rocks campsite and Ten Mile Bay campsite to do safety and education checks.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

RCMP beefs up patrols at recreation sites

Agassiz RCMP beefs up patrols as area rec sites draw more seasonal visitors

May 27, 2023 | 11:21 AM

HARRISON — When warmer weather arrives and B.C. residents head to their favourite outdoor spots, wherever that is, RCMP officers usually aren’t far behind, one of which is Agassiz RCMP Constable Kyle Toole, a volunteer with the Popkum Volunteer Fire Department.

RCMP officers will often be deployed to some of British Columbia’s most beautiful and popular areas when those touristy and recreational destinations attract an influx of visitors, such as the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, or Cultus Lake Park. The B.C. RCMP tracks and responds to these seasonal demands with extra patrols wherever they are required.

As the provincial police force, the common uniform, training, infrastructure and policing standards of the B.C. RCMP allows the RCMP to supplement local resources as they respond to demands for policing services in areas less busy throughout the year. This flexibility and surge capacity allows the RCMP to ensure adequate and effective policing throughout the province.

Over the Victoria Day long weekend, Cst Berthier Kyobela, posted to the B.C. RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime unit, joined Constable Kyle Toole of the Agassiz RCMP, on the waters at Harrison Lake and Sts’ailes Territories at Harrison River. Police officers with the B.C. RCMP, on time off from their regular duties, enjoy such unique opportunities to supplement their colleagues.

Image: RCMP / Constable Berthier Kyobela joined Constable Kyle Toole of the Agassiz RCMP during Victoria Day long weekend patrols in the Harrison River and surrounding areas.

Community Safety

Imagine High school closed by threats

50m ago

Weekly report

Mounties deal with high-centred stolen vehicle, speeding driver and messy mischief in Agassiz

1h ago

Under Investigation

No injuries in Chilliwack wood storage building fire Monday

10h ago

After a thorough check of the Zodiac rigid-hull inflatable boat and logging into the Police Records Information Management Environment (PRIME-BC) that allows them to view every police file and for dispatch to identify their location, Cst. Toole launched the pair from Harrison Hot Springs. In addition to having completed the nine-day Small Vessel Operator Proficiency course, Cst. Toole has the electronic navigation course and volunteers with the Popkum Volunteer Fire Department. This enables Constable Toole, who is originally from New Brunswick, a connected and resourceful member in the Fraser Valley community, a valued professional with the BC RCMP and an incredible asset to provincial safety.

Out on Harrison Lake, Cst. Kyobela and Cst. Toole conducted education and safety checks with boaters and families in the popular waters before heading north west into Harrison River where they patrolled the waters and provided a police presence to the water-access-only homes. The pair then returned to Harrison Lake and proceeded north, patrolling the coastline, including with the use of Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) equipped to the boat to help identify persons behind dense forestry for well-being checks, given their distance from immediate help.

Farther north, the two police officers conducted investigative follow-ups at Camp Cove group campsite, Limbert Rocks campsite and a foot patrol at Ten Mile Bay Campsite. Farther north at Ten Mile Bay campsite, additional safety and education checks were conducted with a boat and kayakers.

“The Agassiz RCMP will be out providing patrols and visibility over the course of the summer. Our area has so much to offer to recreation enthusiasts and those wanting to leave big city life behind throughout the summer. We ask that everyone coming to the area be respectful to each other and be safe,” said Sgt. Mike Sargent of the Agassiz RCMP.

After several hours out on the waters, Cst. Kyobela and Cst. Toole returned to the Village of Hot Springs and jumped into their police car but dispatch soon informed them of a single-boat accident in the Harrison River.

Image: RCMP / Agassiz RCMP Constable Kyle Toole navigates the RCMP Zodiac boat in Harrison Lake at Sheers Island and Ten Mile Bay campsite over the Victoria Day long weekend.

The pair returned to the dock and launched the Zodiac boat. Within minutes of the original call, Cst. Kyobela and Cst. Toole located the single boat and its occupants. The occupants and their boat were assessed by police and it was determined that a tow back to land was necessary. The occupants were welcomed onto the police boat and secured with personal flotation devices. Their boat was towed back to land with the two-motor Zodiac where Cst Toole conducted a further inspection of their boat and provided them boat safety education.

With no further calls on the waters, both constables returned to shore just as the sun was setting, docked the boat and once again jumped into their police car and drove into the Village of Hot Springs.

“The B.C. RCMP reminds those near or in the waters to ensure that they are prepared for an emergency,” Cst. Berthier Kyobela said. “This includes having the capacity to self-rescue and not being impaired near waters. For those enjoying campsites outside of cell phone reception, the B.C. RCMP reminds everyone to ensure that they have informed someone of their intended location and when they intend to check in or return. In an emergency or missing person outcome, this information would be critical to a police response and allow the B.C. RCMP to deploy the appropriate land, water or air service fleet.”

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Agassiz RCMP beefs up patrols as area rec sites draw more seasonal visitors

More Local News