RCMP scoring higher in Yukoners' esteem
Seventy-eight per cent of Yukoners believe RCMP officers demonstrate professionalism at work, according to a new national survey released last week.
Seventy-eight per cent of Yukoners believe RCMP officers demonstrate professionalism at work, according to a new national survey released last week.
That's a 12 per cent increase over the same survey in 2010.
The annual national survey polled about 500 adult Yukoners over the phone during June and July 2011.
Three-quarters of Yukoners say the RCMP is an organization with integrity, compared to 63 per cent in 2010.
The numbers also rose when it came to Yukoners believing the police are honest (up to 70 per cent from 63), demonstrate compassion (up to 69 per cent from 60) and demonstrate respect (up to 76 per cent from 63).
The number of people who say they have trust and confidence in the RCMP climbed by 10 per cent to 78 per cent.
"I think people see the attempts we are making to improve our relationship with Yukoners,” Whitehorse RCMP Sgt. Don Rogers said today.
Nearly 60 per cent of Yukoners believe the RCMP provide Canadians with adequate information about their work, the highest that number has been in the last four years.
The Yukon's police faced massive public criticism during and after a 2010 coroner's inquest into the death of Raymond Silverfox, who died in police cells in 2008.
Silverfox was violently ill all through his 13 hours in police custody but was left on the drunk tank floor in his own filth.
He died of a fast-acting infection most likely caused by inhaling his own vomit.
A review of the Yukon's police force was conducted following the inquest and led to many recommendations for improvements.
"There were a number of high-profile things in the headlines across the country and within M Division that, rightfully so, did not put the spotlight on us in a positive way,” Rogers said.
Officers have always worked hard to maintain an open relationship with the people in their communities, Rogers said.
He cited recent work by the Ross River and Pelly Crossing detachments along with local First Nations targeting the sale of illicit drugs.
Eighty-six per cent of the people surveyed report they highly value the RCMP's collaboration and work in their community. That's an increase of eight per cent over 2010.
According to the survey, 67 per cent of people believe the RCMP are contributing to safer and healthier aboriginal communities.
That is up from 57 per cent in 2010 but still 10 per cent lower than the 2008 results.
Sixty-nine per cent of people surveyed in the territory agree the RCMP are sensitive to the needs of women.
That is about the same as the 2010 results (67 per cent) but considerably lower than in 2009 when that number was 81 per cent.
"I think you're always going to try and do better,” Rogers said. "There's always things you can do to improve.”
The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 per cent.
Comments (4)
Up 0 Down 0
Josey Wales on Jan 21, 2012 at 3:07 am
Hmmm, they never asked me either.
Many many folks I talk to, feel a big disconnect from our community police. In fairness folks lets not lay the whole trip on just our local Mounties and place waaaaaaaaaaay more heat where it really is needed...THE COURTS!
They are so so sooooooo broken and have been since at least 1982.
Anybody out here ever actually read "The Justice Act"? I have and factor that in with P.E.T's "Charter of Rights and Freedoms" and it goes way better at explaining our local problems with habitual criminals having a rap sheet longer than Santa's list...both the naughty and good combined!
If you desire this dysfunction keep voting Liberal or socialist, cuz didn't ya know? Everything is always somebodies fault but those whom act out the crimes against our society.
So that is why I in my POV feel this whole trip is not squarely on the RCMP's shoulders. Their reputation has and will plummet with every cleared officer...every "odd" circumstance resulting in dead prisoners...every entitled goon whom greets you roadside.
There are still many shiny apples in the force whom truly care. Trouble is the compost bin they are in is full of rot.
To all the good cops...thank-you.
Up 0 Down 0
Francias Pillman on Jan 20, 2012 at 12:11 pm
So 500 people are surveyed and the first sentence reads nearly 80% of Yukoners agree. Excuse me? How can such a small percentage be lumped into "that's everyone else's opinion in the Yukon" I'm glad you speak for me and can read 30k+ residents minds. Do you guys do tarot readings as well?
Up 0 Down 0
johnjack on Jan 20, 2012 at 6:01 am
Too bad they can't solve murders!!!
Up 0 Down 0
25 year yukoner on Jan 20, 2012 at 5:20 am
I don't think their findings were completely accurate, I know personally that I was not polled and had I been, I know that I among many others would have said the opposite about our police force in the Yukon, many of them for years now have run around like vigilante cowboys.
Many of the officers do an excellent job, work hard and have my full respect however, many of the other officers still seem to abuse their authority. (silverfox is a prime example.)