Many communities in Manitoba are crying out about police shortages, but very few are faced with the level of RCMP officer vacancies that The Pas has been experiencing. Some communities are complaining about having anywhere from two to five positions vacant. Meanwhile, The Pas is operating with only 12 of its 23 budgeted RCMP positions filled for a community of over 5,300 residents.
This has led to inadequate coverage with only three officers on duty during night shifts and two during the day. The Town of the Pas pays $3.5 million annually for policing services in the community and the Community Safety Program faces even more costs as they plan to fund this investment for the future.
As a result, the tri-community area has seen a rise in criminal activity from drug trafficking operations and altercations involving weapons and firearms. Just last December, Opaskwayak Cree Nation implemented a curfew in their community in hopes of controlling the criminal activity taking place in the early morning hours.