By Cam Fortems, Kamloops This Week
According to Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar, an RCMP review found Kamloops is the best location for an Interior police helicopter, but the national police force chose to ignore that study.
Both Milobar and Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone said they will seek more information after the RCMP acknowledged it will move its Air 4 helicopter to Prince George from Kamloops this summer.
Prince George, which services the RCMP’s north district, has no helicopter, while the southeast district has units in Kamloops and Kelowna. A fixed-wing aircraft will be correspondingly moved to Kamloops from Prince George.
Milobar was vacationing when contacted by Kamloops This Week and replied to questions via email. He said he was not informed of the move and will seek explanation from the RCMP.
“My understanding is they did an internal review that had actually showed Kamloops the best place for the southern helicopter, but chose to ignore their own study and put it in Kelowna,” Milobar said.
The RCMP distributed a statement last week stating the move was for operational reasons and that the north district comprises 70 per cent of the province.
Kamloops Search and Rescue said delays or unavailability of the Kelowna-based helicopter could harm ability to swiftly search for lost people and will hamper training opportunities.
Stone said he was not briefed on the move, which he called disappointing.
“I understand there was no input requested of the province,” Stone said in an interview. “I found out the same time as everyone else. I’m not happy about it.”
Stone said he will meet with Attorney General Suzanne Anton to find out more about the decision. Following that, he will speak with Milobar.
Milobar said he is travelling to Kelowna this week to meet with senior RCMP officials on the helicopter move and other issues.
Along with Air 4’s move north will go pilots, flight officers and maintenance engineers.
Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are used by RCMP for tasks including patrols and surveillance, searches, operational support and to quickly transport members and equipment around B.C.
