In his first media address since taking over as commanding officer of the RCMP's G division in November 2022, Chief Supt. Syd Lecky said recruitment and retention has long been a challenge for police in the territory.
Lecky, who is a member of the Peskotomuhkati First Nation in New Brunswick, said employing Indigenous people from the N.W.T. increases the likelihood they will stay long-term. "I do see when I go to the communities and people say to me, 'I want to see our people represented in the policing in our communities, of public safety in our communities,' and I'd love to give that to them."
"Working with our communities and our community partners is a key to how we are going to get ahead on this," he said.Lecky noted there has been a spike in opioid toxicity deaths in Hay River.