By CHIEF ROBERT A. DUTTCHEN
Corman Park Police Service
The Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) had another varied and interesting week.
On June 8 at approximately 5:30 p.m. CPPS attended to a CN railway crossing in response to a truck versus train motor vehicle collision. The member arrived at the scene with RCMP members already present. Fortunately, the driver of the vehicle was unhurt, and the train crew, though shaken by the incident, were also uninjured. CPPS was able to assist at the scene by obtaining statements from the train crew and arranging to have the involved vehicle towed as it was no longer drivable.
In the early morning hours of June 10, around 2:00 a.m., CPPS initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle in relation to the vehicle’s manner of driving. The driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was found to be breaking his 10:00 p.m. curfew. The driver was arrested and, as part of the arrest process, was found to be in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine within the vehicle. The possession represented a second breach for this individual, who was prohibited from possessing any drugs not prescribed by a doctor. The suspect was conveyed to the Saskatoon RCMP detachment where he was processed and released in the morning with dates to appear in court and for fingerprints.
Much later that same day, at approximately 11:00 p.m., a CPPS member patrolling the vicinity of Township Road 382 and Range Road 3060 encountered a vehicle with multiple occupants broken down at the side of the road. A check of one of the occupants revealed they were the object of an outstanding warrant related to multiple charges by the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS). The subject was taken into custody and at the direction of SPS released with a new court appearance date.
June 12 was High School Seniors’ ditch day. Seniors from around the greater Saskatoon area cut classes and headed to the Chief Whitecap Dog Park. CPPS was on hand with partners from the RCMP, Saskatchewan Conservation and Vanscoy Police Service. Approximately 1,800–2,000 youth attended the event, arriving by bus, driven by parents and in their own cars. One youth experienced a serious medical incident related to drug use and was conveyed to the Royal University Hospital.
A second youth made the decision to drink and drive. When the youth observed the CheckStop he would have to pass through on the way home, he turned his vehicle around and attempted to evade police. Officers located him on the roadway back to the dog park where he was given a breath demand that resulted in a ‘fail’. The youth was conveyed to the Saskatoon RCMP detachment where he provided two breath samples of 90 mg% on the approved screening device. The youth was released on an appearance notice and turned over to the care of a responsible adult.
Over 100 vehicles were checked leaving the event and only one impaired driver was located. CPPS salutes the designated drivers who made the responsible choice and the parents who opted to drop their kids off and pick them up afterwards.
On Saturday June 13 in the afternoon, CPPS received a report of livestock that had made good their escape from their pasture and taken their grazing act on the road. The bovine bandits had wandered to the area near Highway 12 and Township Road 393, a dangerous location for loafing livestock. A broadcast about the animals was made on the CPPS Facebook page and residents of the area rallied to wrangle, redirect and return the wayward cattle. The investigation into animal ownership remains ongoing at this time.
There are many parts of the job as Chief that are not explicitly contained in the job description. One of these would be occupying the hot seat — a water bucket dump chair — as the fundraising target. But that was exactly how I got to spend a portion of my Sunday afternoon. The South Corman Park School was hosting their annual fundraiser which included yours truly filling the chair. The kids seemed to take great delight in dumping water buckets on my head all for a good cause. Spending time in the community is always worthwhile even if it means getting a little wet!