Uptick in crime causing problems for volunteers at PGRHRS

“We do come by a vehicle where there’ll be just drug paraphernalia left behind and it just poses a health risk to our members,” said Steven Silva, Public Relations Director, PGRHRS.

“They do feel unsafe, especially as it’s volunteer-based. They’re not paid to come out here, they’re just here to volunteer their time,” said Silva.

Now, some volunteers are refusing to train due to their safety.

Damage has been found to their property such as holes cut with knives and people found sleeping inside their work vehicles. Sometimes even underneath them.

“In the compound in the back, we have a wired gate, they’re cutting into the gate and there’s a pretty significant hole that they’re going into. Just the other day to, we had someone put a fire near the building near the bushes here, the fire department had to show up,” said Silva.

The society runs off of donations and government funding. But with resources being wasted to deal with these problems, they’re worried that they won’t be able to respond to calls.

“If there’s something such as break in or obstruction or just paraphernalia in the vehicles, it’s a huge delay to us to respond to those calls and it’s a life or death situation,” said Silva.

While interviewing Silva on Wednesday, RCMP showed up after suspicion of someone inside the quonset. Police later determined that it was a false alarm.

“At one point just in this last week, members responded for a report of a possible person in the compound, and when they arrived they did find someone who was sleeping in the compounds so that person was arrested for breaking and entering,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, Prince George RCMP.

Police say they have stepped up their presence in the area, but the society says they need everyone to help so that they can continue to train in the event they’re needed.

PGRHRS always accepts donations. For more information on how you can help, visit their website here.

by Oli Herrera

Uptick in crime causing problems for volunteers at PGRHRS

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