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91ƵDeeply concerning91Ƶ: New Kelowna RCMP commander addresses detachment91Ƶs controversies

Supt. Kara Triance hopes to improve the culture within the detachment
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Supt. Kara Triance, detachment commander for the Kelowna RCMP. (Phil McLachlan - Capital News)

The new commander of the Kelowna RCMP is coming into a detachment which has seen a lot of public scrutiny as of late.

Lawsuits, controversies and even criminal charges against officers have plagued the detachment over the past couple of years as local Mounties have faced allegations of excessive force, sexual assault and more.

Their new boss, Supt. Kara Triance, said she has high expectations for her officers going forward.

Triance began her role as the commander of the Kelowna Regional Detachment, which oversees Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country, last week. She said good police conduct is of the utmost importance.

91ƵWe can not afford to get it wrong,91Ƶ said Triance in a Tuesday, Nov. 3 interview with the Capital News. 91ƵBecause with every wrong we have (to do) a lot of right to undo that.91Ƶ

In the past year, the Kelowna RCMP has dealt with community backlash over its high number of sexual assault reports deemed 91Ƶunfounded91Ƶ, highly publicized incidents showing alleged excessive force used by officers, all as at least two Mounties 91Ƶ one who91Ƶs currently suspended and one former 91Ƶ make their way through court on criminal charges and others face civil lawsuits.

READ MORE: 91ƵSteeped in rape culture91Ƶ: Sexual assault survivor speaks out against Kelowna RCMP

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Those high-profile incidents that the detachment is currently dealing with have presented some 91Ƶdeeply concerning issues,91Ƶ Triance said. She hopes to maintain a more transparent relationship with both the media and public, saying she will provide this as those matters progress, but mentioned such issues can get 91Ƶvery complex.91Ƶ

91ƵThe totality of what we91Ƶre dealing with includes a review of each one of those incidents: A look at the supervision; the leadership 91Ƶ right from the lowest level of a non-commissioned officer to my position 91Ƶ (with which) we manage our employees.91Ƶ

She said the question essentially boils down to this: 91ƵAt what point did we fail to uphold to (our) objectives and wherein that system did we break down?91Ƶ

While acknowledging the concerns of the public, Triance said overall, the officers at the detachment are doing good police work.

91ƵThere are people who are very proud to do their work and they take their jobs very seriously.91Ƶ

Noting the detachment91Ƶs struggles in recent years with sexual assault reports, Triance said she91Ƶs looking forward to working with Kelowna91Ƶs four-officer sexual assault unit, which was introduced in March. She helped build similar teams in Whistler and Squamish when she headed the RCMP91Ƶs Sea-to-Sky detachment.

91ƵThose dedicated officers, with the unique skill set that they bring, to be able to provide services to survivors of sexual assault and to investigate very complex and serious files, are an incredible asset to those detachments.91Ƶ

With almost 200 police officers under her command, Triance hopes to improve the culture within the detachment, stressing the need for strong values, conduct, professionalism, respect and integrity.

91ƵIt91Ƶs not that we go out and do the job, it91Ƶs how we do the job. For me, that starts with an internal look and investment in my employees.91Ƶ

READ MORE: Kelowna91Ƶs new top cop promises communication, collaboration, good conduct

READ MORE: RCMP brass addresses concerns over recent actions of police in the Southeast District

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com



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