CUPE 104, the union representing RCMP dispatchers and operators, is sounding the alarm as 43 per cent of jobs are vacant across Canada.
These vacancies are raising concerns about how these could be affecting police and their response time.
“It’s an actual shortage and it’s very worrisome. It’s been going on for a while, and it’s just getting worse,” said Kathleen Hippern, CUPE 104 president.
“I fear that a tragedy is going to happen.”
In Saskatchewan specifically, the vacancy rate has jumped to just under 56 per cent — something Hippern says is a public safety failure.
“This is officer safety. This is public safety. This is the health and well-being of the people that are taking these calls and working these files.”
According to the union, the RCMP commissioner received a recommendation to provide the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) staffing statistics every six months — something they’ve refused to do.
“I’m very discouraged and very disheartened that the RCMP commissioner will not do as the CRCC recommended. It’s not a good thing. And the decisions they’re making without our consultation actually are hurting us,” said Hippern.
Hippern says the RCMP’s refusal to comply with the recommendation raises concerns about their transparency and accountability.
“(It’s) shocking. I mean, this is public safety. So when that call comes in through 911 and that’s brought it to our dispatch, police officers are not going to move unless we can take that call,” said Hippern.
“It doesn’t feel like they care about us, just doesn’t feel like they truly care about public safety and our role within public safety. We don’t feel valued.”
Hippern added these are high-stress jobs when they are fully staffed and with the vacancies it is driving employees to burn out.
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“We’re so proud to do this kind of work. But it’s really tough. It’s tough work on a good day if you have 100 per cent staff and we’re finding that we’re doing double the workload, and it’s this snowball effect where people are feeling burnt out and traumatized and leaving the workplace,” said Hippern.
“Oftentimes we talk to people who are feeling suicidal, and we’re often the ones that negotiate a person coming out (during a standoff) or a person not completing suicide that day.”
Among other things, a staff shortage in operators and dispatchers means police response to calls may be delayed. Hippern wants it known the dispatchers are doing their best with the resources provided.
“Just know that your dispatchers in Saskatchewan care and they’re doing the best that they can.”
Global News reached out to Saskatchewan RCMP for comment but received no response by the time of publishing.
The union is calling for a full parliamentary investigation into the RCMP’s alleged mismanagement of its human resources.
On Wednesday, the Saskatchewan RCMP held a press conference to address some of the concerns brought up by the union.
The RCMP said it is aware of vacancies across the province, but the rate is much lower than what the union is reporting.
“The reality is we’re running about a 30.5 per cent vacancy rate in Saskatchewan,” said Supt. Devin Pugh, support services officer for Saskatchewan RCMP, adding that there might be “a little bit of a misunderstanding on that part.”
Pugh says the RCMP is doing what it can to address these vacancies and concerns.
“We’re aware of it and we’re addressing it in other ways. And recruiting is one of the biggest reasons that we are trying to address it,” Pugh said.
Pugh adds that the RCMP is “implementing different initiatives to be able to take some of that front load workload off of the dispatchers to make sure that that ability to answer those 911 calls and dispatch aren’t impeded.”
Pugh says even with the vacancies, the effectiveness of dispatching police has not changed.
“We’re on average, we’re answering the 911 calls in five seconds or less. And that hasn’t gone down.”
And Saskatchewan is better prepared for tragedies than some other provinces.
“Unlike some other agencies, we have that ability to reach out to all the counterparts right across Canada.”
Pugh adds the struggles the RCMP is facing are not unique.
“On a national level, they are aware that recruitment is an issue within all of the realms of policing. And that’s not unique just to the RCMP.”
But Jocelyn James, the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Operational Communication Centre unit manager, says while recruiting is a challenge, that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.
“We definitely are seeing the applicants. And it’s just a long process and it’s trying to find the right fit and the type of person that can do this type of job. It’s not for everyone.”
The RCMP said it is actively working to fill the vacancies and since the October statistics the union received there have been some vacancies filled, with four new employees starting their jobs with the RCMP.
— with files from Josh Gwozdz, Global News
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