Police investigators in Moncton, Riverview, and Dieppe have been assigned to specialized units to enhance the Codiac Regional RCMP’s effectiveness in solving property crimes and serious person crimes like sexual assault and domestic violence. Codiac Supt. Benoit Jolette mentioned that this restructuring aligns with standard investigative practices observed in other police forces.
Previously, Codiac’s general investigative unit handled a wide range of cases, from break-ins to sexual assaults, leading to investigators frequently switching between different types of investigations in a single day. With the recent restructuring, four new specialized units have been established: General Investigations Section, Vulnerable Persons Unit, Crime Reduction Unit focusing on priority offenders, and Crime Reduction Unit focusing on property crime.
The decision to reorganize the investigative units was prompted by a confidential third-party review of the police force in 2024. The review identified lower than expected solvability rates for serious person crimes and property crimes due to investigators handling a mix of various cases and facing challenges in conducting thorough follow-ups. Jolette emphasized the importance of tracking the impact of the restructuring on metrics such as solvability rates and charges laid per member, with the anticipated results to be evaluated by the end of the first quarter on April 1.
Since the implementation of the specialized units on January 5, positive outcomes have already been observed. Notably, the property crime team swiftly arrested a suspect through targeted surveillance, demonstrating the effectiveness of the new approach. Jolette attributed the restructuring to the increased budgeted positions within the Codiac police force for 2025.
Additionally, a new initiative to enhance police communication through a Facebook page is set to launch soon. The social media platform aims to keep residents, elected officials, and businesses informed about daily police activities, events, and initiatives within the community. Jolette assured that while the page will not be monitored around the clock, it will serve as a valuable tool for sharing real-time updates on police operations and community engagements.
