The Drumheller RCMP expect their office might be getting busier in the very near future as policies governing their communications system are implemented.
Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins tells The Drumheller Mail there are plans to revamp their telephone communication system because of increased 911 calls.
“We have received some direction to implement a change,” said Hopkins. “Every detachment, because our communications centres are being overwhelmed, will have to start managing phone calls directly into their own offices.”
He explains that currently there is an administration number for the Drumheller Detachment (403-823-7590). There is also a call line for non-emergencies (403-823-2630) and 911 for emergencies.
He says a non-emergency call that typically would go to a communication centre will now be directed to the local office, to be handled by a local clerk. This clerk will then be charged with making contact with an available officer.
“We don’t know how it is going to effect our operation, but right now it appears it is going to be taking our clerical staff off their regular duties and they will be answering more calls,” said Hopkins.
He explains the increased workload on 911 is due to the use of cell phones.
“There is always going to be these false alarms and these 911 calls coming from cell phones. A lot of people no longer have landlines, and they don’t have a telephone book so they will call 911. As a result it is taking away our resources,” said Hopkins.
“This is going to drastically increase the calls here (to the detachment) which is going to take the clerks away from the front counter and a number of other things.”
He explains the change was planned to be implemented by the beginning of February, however the technical work to upgrade the phone system has not been completed.
He says the changes are just one more way clerical staff is facing an increased workload. Today many organizations need a police check for volunteers, which is time consuming. Often audio or video statements taken by police are required to be transcribed, which also falls on clerks.
“That is just one more task, one more thing in the barrel that has to be done,” said Hopkins.