Kelowna RCMP say they’re ready for the summer, which is traditionally the busiest time of the year because of the influx of tourists.
The detachment has been steadily increasing in size in recent years and now has 208 members.
Superintendent Bill McKinnon says, "We’re in very good shape, resource-wise. We have what we’re supposed to have. That’s probably the first time that’s ever happened."
On Monday, the mounties unveiled their new lake patrol vessel.
Cst. Rohel Williams, who is in charge of the RCMP boat, says the Zodiak Hurricane is larger and faster than the old boat.
"We were the slowest on the lake," he says. "With this one we can at least keep up with some of the other boats."
The RCMP wanted an extra boat based in Kelowna, largely because of their experience with forest fires in the summers of 2003 and 2009.
Their old vessel was primarily used to keep recreational boaters out of the path of air tankers and helicopters that were trying to fill up with water from Okanagan Lake.
Now they’ll be able to patrol the lake and provide security for firefighting aircraft at the same time.
Starting this weekend the RCMP bike patrol will also be out monitoring the city’s beaches and parks. Those patrols will continue until Labour Day.
The new Zodiak Hurricane was funded entirely by the province, and means the Kelowna RCMP now have two boats for local use.
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