September 6, 2024: Ten welcomed RCMP’s Sergeant Clive Seabrook to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Clive shared some of what “excites and delights” him. Personally, he was buoyed by his recent 20th wedding anniversary trip to Paris, a phenomenal city. Professionally, he is blessed by a career that continues to excite and intrigue him despite its challenges.

After some recent gaps in staffing, he is pleased that the Salt Spring Island Detachment is at full strength, with eight officers including himself, a Corporal, six Constables, and two administrative public service employees who assist the officers with a lot of the administrative workflow and the public with services such as criminal record checks. Clive credits any success in the community to the hard work and dedication of the officers and staff at the Salt Spring detachment – we are blessed with a great team who are often called upon in very difficult circumstances. 

 As many of us know, RCMP officers are posted to Salt Spring for four years – and Clive’s four years would have been completed by this October (2024). Luckily, he has been given a one year extension until October 2025. Clive is aware that receiving a second one-year extension could be more difficult. If he were not given an additional extension and transferred in October 2025, he was asked if a Salt Spring officer would be promoted to the position. We learned that the RCMP would first look at filling the position latterly to a Sergeant in another community. If a qualified candidate was not identified, Clive’s position may then be opened up as a promotional opportunity. 

 While we worry about losing Clive who has been such a positive force in our community, he reminded us that Headquarters understands the challenges of policing on Salt Spring. Headquarters would ensure identification of a replacement commander who possessed the necessary skills and abilities to lead the detachment.

 We learned that statistics show a satisfying decline in calls, from 3,415 in 2019 before Clive arrived to 2,775 in 2023, and 1,688 so far in 2024. This trend has us on track for approximately 2,500 calls for service for 2024.

Another statistic is the number of arrests resulting from these calls, a statistic that is also happily decreasing. Although calls still come in with some frequency about Ganges gathering places like Centennial Park and the United Meadow, police find many of these calls are the result of simply seeing people in the park and not a result of unlawful behaviour. Although Police are prepared to hold individuals accountable as required, Clive sees that some of these calls report a prejudice-fueled perception that something is wrong rather than criminal behaviour. Too often the result of the fear of those who look and act differently, Clive and his officers are committed to a Salt Spring that is a safe place for all.

 What are some of the major issues Clive and his officers deal with on Salt Spring? Impaired driving is very high on the list of Salt Spring crimes – and these are mostly locals, not tourists. Most commonly alcohol-induced, there are also cases of impairment from illicit drugs. So rampant is impaired driving that one of our Salt Spring officers will be receiving a provincial award for the number of impaired drivers he has taken off the road. Although Clive is proud of the work of his officers, this is not an award that gives Clive any pleasure – ideally we would not have the high number of impaired drivers on our roads in the first place. Our RCMP is also focusing on serious criminal activities here including domestic violence, child pornography, and drug trafficking.

 While the major focus of Clive and his officers is keeping our community safe and addressing criminal behaviours, mental health cases comprise between 200-300 of the calls each year. (Sometimes an individual struggling with their mental health can result in 10-15 calls in a week.) Those in crisis are often not aware of what they are doing, and criminal activity can result. Often the focus of these mental health calls is making sure the person in crisis does not hurt themselves or others, but these individuals often require health care services for longer term support.  

 Often the first responder, our officers are well trained in mental health intervention and are required to take multiple courses every year. But, despite their training, Clive is aware that this is not enough and that long term solutions must include our health care system.

Clive is very thankful that Salt Spring RCMP and Island Health are in initial conversations about bringing a program that partners Island Health and Salt Spring RCMP. Working well in other jurisdictions, some of these programs are called Car 54 (https://find.healthlinkbc.ca/ResourceView2.aspx?org=53965&agencynum=27585704). This program allows healthcare workers and RCMP to jointly help those who require support with their mental health and wellbeing. While mental health related calls for service are usually a health care issue, Clive understands police have a role to play and will support our health care workers in whatever program is developed to meet Salt Spring needs.

 While Clive hopes to be able to stay beyond October 2025, this Island Health/RCMP partnership is an example of a program that will continue long after he has left. Another example of nurturing longterm programs is our Ambassador Program with which he was involved from its inception. The Ambassador Program is supported by an amazing group of volunteers, and Clive hopes more people can step up to support that much needed program. Citing so many good news programs in our community, Clive hopes we can continue to build on these good initiatives so that they become solid and on-going benefits to our community. 

 We discussed the failed CRD Safety Initiative (https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/news/article/2019/10/29/alternative-approval-process-begins-for-salt-spring-island-community-safety-service), defeated in a counter-referendum in 2019. Clive was asked if the CRD Safety Service is worth exploring again to provide on-going funding for some of these important safety initiatives in our community. While there was some interest in discussing this further, this conversation has not yet even begun. Clive feels a revised service which can benefit all of Salt Spring is worth reconsidering. 

 Clive was asked why it seemed that so many are “arrested and released,” asking where the judge was this process. We learned that there are clearly-defined steps concerning post arrest, some being released by the RCMP with a pending court date; some released by the Judge in a bail hearing by phone; or, in cases in which there is concern about releasing a suspect; some are held to appear in court.

Clive reported that over the past year his officers have been holding more offenders in custody to appear in court, especially when those offenders have a criminal record and/or are more likely to re-offend. When asked if our jail is often full to capacity, we learned that capacity is not a problem. Instead, the problem is often guarding and transporting prisoners. A relatively well-paid, on call position, the biggest challenge of getting guards is the long process of getting the required high security clearance.

 When asked about a Warming Space, Clive told us that he had been contacted by a group and is planning to attend a meeting about this in the near future. He is clear that he is happy to provide support, but if someone is trespassing, whether that be on an individual’s property or a CRD-owned property, his responsibility is to enforce the law. Police will always do their best to respond in a careful, kind, and compassionate way.

 This same commitment to kindness and compassion while upholding the law extends to our Liveaboard community. While not prepared to step in too quickly where other agencies are responsible (Islands Trust, Province, Feds, Coast Guard, Transport Canada, Harbour Authority, and CRD), Clive remains committed to the safety of all. In Clive’s opinion, this safety could be greatly enhanced with some basic safety equipment such as life rings, fire extinguishers, personal flotation devices on all occupied boats, as well as secure anchorage to ensure vessels remain in place. Clive says there have been some great conversations in the community around keeping the harbour clean, including ideas such as a garbage/recycling project to make boats safer. 

 As our time together was already nearly over, we closed by speaking briefly about the disruption about to begin on Ganges Hill with Clive warning drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians to be both patient and vigilant. As we left this gathering, we thanked Clive for his optimism, determination, and commitment to the rights of all. His energy establishing new programs will serve us for generations. With deep appreciation for his “Solutions not Problems” attitude, we thanked Clive for joining us several times each year. (Thanks, Clive!)