RCMP Const. Tessa Cameron has been pulled from her position as student liaison officer for School District No.46 (SD46) due to staffing shortages.
SD46 superintendent Patrick Bocking told trustees at the Sept. 11 board meeting that Cameron was “no longer able to be a liaison officer because of staffing challenges” with the RCMP’s Sunshine Coast detachment.
“We really want her back and the RCMP very much wants her back as well,” said Bocking, who called the communication between the RCMP and school district “meaningful.”
Sunshine Coast RCMP Staff Sgt. Poppy Hallam told Coast Reporter Cameron was needed to fill a gap left after a frontline police officer was injured.
The Sunshine Coast RCMP has been facing staff shortages lately, but Hallam said she expects the detachment to return to normal levels by October. “We have a few new police officers coming,” she said. The earliest Cameron could return to that role is late October.
In the meantime, principals have been given phone numbers to contact officers who have been assigned to share the responsibility of covering the schools within the district.
Both the district and Hallam praised Cameron’s work.
“The kids just really relate to her, she’s super down to earth,” said Hallam.
Most detachments of the Sunshine Coast’s size have a youth liaison officer. The role is intended to build relationships between youth and the RCMP, especially among at-risk students. She attends special events at the district, accompanies students on field trips, and is also involved in restorative justice.
At the end of the Wednesday board meeting, board chair Pammila Ruth said the district will advocate for the role. “They know we’re wanting to have that relationship, they know that we’re willing to work with them for that relationship. Whether they can actually do it is a completely different story. We’re hoping to help in any way we can,” she said.
One of the RCMP’s national strategic priorities is to reduce youth involvement in crime as victims and offenders.
