He has big boots to fill, but he says he’s up for the job.
Meet Constable George Phipps, Sidney North Saanich RCMP’s new Community Police Office who took the reins from Constable Ravi Gunasinghe earlier this summer.
Phipps, who has been with the RCMP for 17 years and with Sidney North Saanich RCMP for the last three, says he is looking forward to his new role which will allow him to engage more with the community.
“In my new role, I will working in all the schools in Sidney and North Saanich as well as engaging with community members on projects like block watch,” he said.
Phipps said he will run the DARE and WITS programs (anti-drug and anti-bullying) programs at local schools along with acting as a go to for any youth who have questions or concerns. As well, he said he is looking forward to implementing more Block Watch programs in Sidney and North Saanich.
“Block Watch is such a great tool and it’s been under-utilized over the last few years because we haven’t had the resources for it.
“In my ideal world, every community throughout Sidney and North Saanich would be involved with block watch.
“It’s just a great way for the community to be engaged and look after each other.”
Prior to transferring to the Sidney North Saanich detachment, Phipps worked in Langley, on the West Shore and on Salt spring Island.
The Community Police Officer role is switched out every handful of years to give different members a chance to work in the community.
Constable Ravi Gunasinghe is still working with the Sidney North Saanich RCMP as an officer.
For more information on Block Watch and the Sidney North Saanich RCMP visit sidney.rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
