Community Safety Office

The Vernon Community Safety Office (CSO) is the flagship operation of the Protective Services – Community Safety Unit. Opening its doors in November 1999 as the Community Policing Office, staffed by RCMP volunteers, the storefront has expanded beyond traditional Community Policing functions, to providing overall Community Safety initiatives. The CSO houses information on over 50 crime reduction/prevention programs and initiatives and also offers a broad spectrum of information around community-based programs, projects and initiatives. The CSO further houses the Restorative Justice Society - North Okanagan.

The CSO allows for community members to initiate non or low priority reports to the RCMP, refers clients to available resources, services and programs within the community, provides information regarding current crime reduction/prevention programs and initiatives which empower individuals and neighbourhoods to feel and be safe.

Programs offered through the CSO

Community members are able to access core Community Safety programs/information such as:

Drug House Awareness & Reporting
Drug Awareness
Frauds Cons & Scams Information
The Vernon Safety Ambassadors Program
Operation Cat’s Paw
The Restorative Justice
CrimeStoppers
W.I.T.S
Personal and Cyber Safety
Unwanted Graffiti Reporting
Operation Identification
Business Property Reference
Garage 529
LGBTQ Safe Place Program

Community Events

RCMP Volunteers also participate in community/school-based bike rodeos, workshops and a wide variety of Community events such as:

Scooter Safety Workshop
Operation ID
Sunshine Festival
Frauds Cons & Scams workshops
Halloween at the Village Green
Winter Carnival Parade
Wings & Wheels
YAA Fest
Pedestrian Safety
International Car Free Day
FASD Day
Bike To Work Week

The Community Safety Coordinator

The Community Safety Coordinator is responsible for the day to day operations and staffing of the CSO as well as program development and implementation to address current crime trends and community needs. The Coordinator provides community outreach in the form of a wide variety of community relevant workshops centred on providing the tools to feel and be safe.

Arrangements for residential or business security audits using the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), workshops on personal, home, vehicle and community safety, Internet safety, crystal meth awareness and a broad range of age and developmentally appropriate workshops can be made through the CSO. Information on bullying, drug awareness, cyberbullying, bike safety and much more is also available.

All workshops are designed to address the unique needs, development and age of the audience.

Workshops provided by the CSO

Such workshops include, but are not limited to:

Dealing with Hostile Clients/Persons
Workplace Safety
Personal Safety (all ages)
Keeping our Children Safe - Toddler Safety
Safe Disposal of Needles
Adult / Youth Internet Safety
Tagging & Unwanted Graffiti
Hug a Tree and Survive
Stay Alert Stay Safe - Child Safety
Residential/Business Security Audits
Crystal Meth Awareness
Bullying
Home/Office Security
Bike Safety

The Community Safety Coordinator

During the summer, the Coordinator is responsible for hiring, training and supervision of the Vernon Safety Ambassadors. The Safety Ambassadors are actively engaged as eyes and ears for the RCMP, ambassadors for the City of Vernon, provide community outreach programs, liaise with the disenfranchised of the community as well as provide a uniformed presence in Vernon at a time when the population and tourism increases significantly.

The Coordinator is actively involved in a variety of community initiatives most aimed at manageable solutions to the root causes of crime under the umbrella of Crime Prevention Through Social Development, such as: