Terrace residents can expect to see RCMP officers patrolling on e-bikes once again this year, thanks to a provincial grant aimed at financing specific community-based police activities.
The four bikes were bought last year when the Terrace RCMP detachment received two grants totalling $140,000. One grant was to buy the bikes and the other was to cover overtime so officers could increase their presence within the downtown core.
In reports to city council, Terrace RCMP detachment commander Terry Gillespie noted the two-wheeled patrols and increased police visibility downtown proved effective and appreciated.
This year's grant is worth $80,000, he said.
"It will be used for enhanced targeted foot and bike patrols within the city of Terrace," Gillespie confirmed.
The detachment routinely has an officer vacancy shortage in the 20 per cent range, so overtime is required to cover police duties.
The grant will supplement the detachment's regular overtime budget, enabling specific actions such as concentrating on activity within the downtown core.
It comes from a provincial program called C-STEP, short for Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Campaign, and earmarked for police activities to deal with street disorder. The budget is $5 million.
Last year's grants came from two other provincial programs, both of which are also meant to respond to public safety concerns.
Those grants for overtime covered the period from May to September of last year for both foot and bike patrols.
Gillespie said 67 people came under investigation through the ability to pay for additional police presence.
Criminal charges, executing warrants and drug and weapons seizures followed. The weapons list included 32 knives, two replica firearms and a homemade incendiary launcher.
