Kamloops cops get more proactive with repeat offenders

Police in Kamloops are putting more effort into monitoring a small group of repeat offenders.

The Kamloops RCMP crime reduction unit is launching with three officers at the end of this month after roughly a year with no one assigned to the unit.

"We're happy to say we're going to have the first portion of that unit staffed this month," Kamloops RCMP Insp. Jeff Pelley said at a City of Kamloops committee meeting today, Sept. 8.

Three officers will start at the end of September and will monitor prolific offenders Pelley blamed for driving up property crime in the city.

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Aside from making arrests, Pelley said the proactive unit will try to connect repeat offenders to services that can help address underlying issues like mental health disorders and addictions.

He said a "small number of criminals" are responsible for the rise in property crime in Kamloops, but added it can be difficult to keep them in custody once a charge comes through.

"We are seeing some challenges of offenders being released with quite a lengthy criminal record," Pelley said.

Prolific offenders are often released with conditions when facing charges for property crimes. That bail process is often dubbed a "catch-and-release" policy, so police will often try to correlate with other offences committed by the same person, making the case that it's in the public interest they remain in custody.

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One repeat offender he mentioned in his presentation was a man who was breaking into businesses through roof vents.

"We were able to link to a series of (offenses)," he said, adding that officers caught him "in the act."

Justin Brown-Henderson was caught on Aug. 31 just after breaking into a Sahali business through the roof.

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Brown-Henderson, 28, was released on bail for theft under $5,000 on Aug. 29, but an application was made to revoke that on Sept. 1.

He remains in custody as of today, Sept. 8, awaiting a bail hearing scheduled for next week, according to court records.

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