Close to 25 residents in Kugluktuk called upon the police to be more responsive to complaints as they protested outside the detachment early Wednesday afternoon.
photo courtesy of Quentin Norberg
For about half an hour, community members held signs and chanted SA国际影视传媒渟erve and protect.SA国际影视传媒� A petition was started as well. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 expected to be delivered to mayor and council.
SA国际影视传媒淔rom what I heard thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a petition to get all these members replaced because they were called numerous times in the past how many weeks (about) domestic violence, DUI, child abuse and stuff like that but the here donSA国际影视传媒檛 take those calls seriously,SA国际影视传媒� said Quentin Norberg, who organized WednesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 protest.
Norberg and Ron Tologanak, another Kugluktuk resident who attended the demonstration, feel that crime in their community has been worse since liquor restrictions were lifted via a plebiscite that took effect in mid-December.
The SA国际影视传媒檚 statistics, previously provided to Nunavut News, indicate that officers have been busier. There were 143 more police files relating to liquor in Kugluktuk in the first five months of 2019 than in the first five months of 2018. No immediate response was available from the Mounties in regards to WednesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 protest.
photo courtesy of Quentin Norberg
Norberg and Tologanak, who have both spent most of their lives in the community, said they know of reported incidents that have not resulted in any response by the . Norberg said he fears for his childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 safety.
SA国际影视传媒淲hat is it going to take for the to pull up their pants, tighten their belt buckle and go to work and do their job?SA国际影视传媒� Norberg asked. SA国际影视传媒淭hey took an oath to serve the community that theySA国际影视传媒檙e assigned toSA国际影视传媒� they donSA国际影视传媒檛 take their calls seriously.SA国际影视传媒�
Tologanak added that other residents have been confiding in him that their complaints to the have not resulted in action. A call he made regarding an erratic driver didn't get the on the streets either, according to Tologanak.
SA国际影视传媒淣othing happens,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 some kids out there getting drunkSA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 alcohol, I think, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the main reason for all this happening. (The police) donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to do anything with drunk people, I guess.SA国际影视传媒�
Kugluktuk has a bylaw officer who recently left on vacation and SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 really noticeable when heSA国际影视传媒檚 out of town,SA国际影视传媒� said Tologanak.
Mayor Ryan Nivingalok told Nunavut News in June that liquor has been causing more issues in town.
SA国际影视传媒淪ome people have go to remember that they have to learn how to consume their alcohol and drink responsibly,SA国际影视传媒� Nivingalok said at the time.
