Did you happen to spot the RCMP boat in Squamish's Harbour?
Local Steve Jacobs did and shared these photos with The Squamish Chief.
He said there were four crew on board having their dinner.
Staff Sgt. Kris Clark, senior media relations officer with the RCMP's E Division, says that West Coast Marine Services (WCMS) policing operations brought the vessel to Squamish. Their presence in Squamish and Howe Sound was "nothing more than regular patrols,” Clark said.
The WCMS is made up of Mounties who undertake proactive marine enforcement up and down the coast of British Columbia.
"Highly trained officers conduct expert and timely criminal investigations for the detachments and communities they serve,” according to the RCMP website on the service.
Because law enforcement on the water requires a lot of training, most police officers who join the West Coast Marine Services first have five to 10 years of general duty as an officer.
There are three such RCMP coastal patrol vessels: the Inkster, stationed in Prince Rupert, which patrols the North Coast from Bella Bella, Bella Coola, north to Stewart, and west to Haida Gwaii, according to the RCMP's website.
During the summer months, the Lindsay is stationed in Port Alberni and patrols the west coast of Vancouver Island, while the Higgitt, which was docked Monday in Squamish, patrols the inside passage of Vancouver Island.
The Higgitt is 17.6 metres long.
The vessels are "designed for coastal defence, border security, and law enforcement."
The officers spend seven days on the ship and seven days off.
"They can be at sea for those seven days without the need for refuelling or replenishing food and supplies."
WCMS also have civilian marine engineers who keep the vessels seaworthy.
WCMS is headquartered in Nanaimo, where there is permanent dock space.
Learn more about West Coast Marine Services on the RCMP’s website.
