36 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: OCTOBER 2017 T he Royal Cana- dian Mounted Police (RCMP) are facing an un- derstaffing crisis and of- ficers are becoming more alarmed about threats to their safety and the safety of the people they protect. Today over 12 percent of sworn positions remain unfilled and this is causing stress and burnout. There have been a high number of resignations as Mounties leave for other agencies. “The staffing crisis is the number one thing affect- ing our organization and there’s no overnight fix to it,” said Brian Sauvé, who serves as national executive co-chair for the National Police Federation. It is the organization that looks likeliest to serve as the union for the RCMP. But Sauvé believes it is go- ing to be years before this situation is fully resolved. “We are overworked, we’re fatigued, we’re ex- hausted, and I haven’t seen any reason to be optimistic that it’s getting better,” Corporal James Smith said. “I’m seeing members with two and three years service showing signs of advanced fatigue and exhaustion. In my 10 years of service our workloads have just been going up and up and up. It’s a recipe for disaster.” The government claims they are working on it, with a plan that includes increasing RCMP pay (the first increase in three years), reviewing reports on ha- rassment within the agency and passing legislation to let Mounties form a union. It’s not just understaff- ing that’s plaguing the force. Mounties say it takes months to get necessities like new pants or utility belts. Radios don’t always work in the more remote parts of the country where they patrol. And response times have also slowed due to staffing shortages. RCMP in crisis, but Mounties push on These Canadian cops say they’re understaffed and overworked 1. Born out of a need for a national police force to implement the law in Canada’s newly acquired western territories, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has evolved into a world-renowned organization of more than 28,000 people. 2. Women were first accepted as uniformed members in 1974. The 70s also brought an expansion of responsibilities in areas such as airport policing, VIP security and drug enforcement. 3. In 1989, the RCMP participated in its first United Nations mission, sending 100 police officers to Namibia to monitor national elections. 4. Today, the RCMP’s scope of operations includes organized crime, terrorism, illicit drugs, economic crimes and offences that threaten the integrity of Canada’s national borders. More on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Help honor the men and women who serve, sacrifice, and protect. Be a part of history at the National Law Enforcement Museum at the Motorola Solutions Foundation Building. Join the Honor Alliance today. Get more information at www.StandWithHonor.us