Squamish residents are likely, and unfortunately, familiar with the RCMP's Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) team, which comes out to investigate when there is a serious or fatal crash on the Sea to Sky Highway.
That specialized team of Mounties is part of the larger Integrated Teams (I-Teams), whose jurisdiction covers Pemberton to Boston Bar.
For the first time in about five years, representatives from I-Teams presented to Squamish council on June 25, at Municipal Hall.
The specialized policing force was created by the provincial government and the Mayors' Council between 2003 and 2008, influenced by then-justice Wallace Oppal's 1994 report, "Closing the Gap—Policing and the Community," which arose out of public concern over police conduct in B.C., Chief Supt. Bruce Singer, officer in charge of Lower Mainland district Integrated Teams, told council.
The teams serve as specialized help local detachments, like Squamish, can call on, if need be.
All 23 RCMP detachments are required to be part of I-Teams.
"When the investigation or when the incident exceeds the capability of the detachment, that's when the specialized teams come in, the integrated teams come in," Singer said.
I-Teams include the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), the Emergency Response Team (ERT), the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service (IPDS), Integrated Forensic Identification Services (IFIS) and ICARS.
There are 362 positions within I-Teams. The organization receives funding from the three levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal.
IHIT has the most members, at 128.
"The awesome thing is that when that critical incident happens, one or two phone calls later, you have access to 362 police officers to assist," said Singer.
Squamish is one of 33 municipalities that share the resources of the Investigative Teams.
These teams would be extremely expensive for communities to pay for themselves, so the resource is shared, Singer added.
They deal with low-frequency, but high-impact events in a community.
Singer noted Integrated Teams are often the most expensive line item of any municipality's policing budget.
Squamish’s projected contribution to I-Teams for the 2024-25 fiscal year is $686,851.
“The associated costs are divided among the partners based on their population size and the incidence of Criminal Code offences in their respective municipalities,” Singer told The Squamish Chief in a follow-up email after his presentation.
“Each municipality's financial contribution is determined using a formula that takes into account these factors. The annual cost is calculated using a five-year rolling average to ensure financial stability and accurate planning. Additionally, the I-Teams have established partnerships with the federal RCMP and the provincial government, which enhances cost-effectiveness and fosters collaborative initiatives.”
By the numbers
ICARs was called to Squamish six times in 2023.
IERT was called twice to Squamish last year, once for a high-risk arrest and another time for someone barricaded inside a building.
IERT also covers VIP security. The prime minister and other heads of state would qualify for that service, Singer said.
IFIS had 13 calls for service in Squamish, for issues from arson to firearm offences.
IPDS fielded 51 calls in Squamish, being called out for everything from some being suicidal to assaults to missing persons.
"You're lucky to have two IPDS members. So, the dog members living in the [District] of Squamish," Singer said.
Because populations are increasing in B.C., the goal is to increase the number of positions within I-Teams, Singer said.
Council members raised the topic of the drama in Surrey over policing after the presentation.
After much controversy and back-and-forth, a municipal police force will take over responsibility for law enforcement in Surrey at the end of November.
Singer said that, as he has been told, the RCMP Integrated Teams will continue to work with that municipality's police force going forward.
"What they have told me, and what the province has told me, is that they fully intend to come on board to the Integrated Teams," he said. "Which is a great news story… The more that we proportionally share the expense of specialized policing [the better]," he added, agreeing with Coun. John French that if Surrey were not part of I-Teams, it would cost the remaining municipalities more.
"It would be a huge blow to the teams if they decided they were going to go on their own," Singer said.
Find the whole presentation on the District of Squamish website.
