New Creston RCMP commanding officer Darryl Hammond hasn’t run a detachment before but his 35 years of policing experience should make the transition easy enough.
Hammond, who succeeds Staff Sgt. Bob Gollan, has arrived from the Langley RCMP detachment, which has 182 members.
“I was watch commander, supervising more officers than we have in the entire Creston operation,” the staff sergeant said on Monday.
Hammond’s first 16 years as a Mountie were served in four Alberta detachments. He then moved to the Lower Mainland, where he remained for the last 18 years.
“I wanted to come back to a small town for my final posting,” he said. “I want to be a part of the community.”
His wife, Heather, is a nurse. She will finish up her last few months on the job in Langley before officially moving to Creston. The couple has two adult sons, one a member of the RCMP who is stationed in the Northwest Territories. The younger son is pursuing studies at the University of British Columbia.
Police Beat
Creston RCMP responded to 97 calls for service from Aug. 17-23, Hammond said.
August 17
•Police are recommending charges following a domestic assault on 33rd Avenue.
•Police were called about two separate civil disputes, one about an insurance company and the other about a paving operation that might not be an actual business.
•A wallet found on Second Avenue North was returned to the owner.
•No injuries were reported after a single vehicle accident in the 2700 block of Highway 3.
•Another civil complaint was received about a Canyon Street business; the complainant said a purchase was not as expected.
•A hit and run that took place on Church Street on Aug. 8 was reported.
•An injured deer was reported on Highway 21.
•Police were called to a verbal dispute about finances on 19th Avenue North.
•A non-aggressive dog was reported to be running loose in the 1100 block of Highway 3A.
•A vehicle passed others on a double solid line on Highway 21 near Mallory Road.
•Search and rescue protocols were activated when police received a report that a male might have fallen into the water near Pilot Bay Road. The search was cancelled when the male showed up elsewhere.
•A complaint about noise from Millennium Park was received from Cedar Street.
•Charges are being recommended following a domestic dispute that involved threats on Highway 3A.
•A medallion and a rock were reported to be missing from a purchase on Northwest Boulevard.
August 18
•A vehicle collided with a deer on Hepher Road at Highway 3A.
•No injuries were reported when a vehicle struck a power pole in the 15000 block of Highway 3A.
•Police located a reported possibly impaired driver. He was not impaired.
•Two suspicious males on 20th Avenue South at Ash Street said they were searching for a lost dog. Police did not locate them.
•When police conducted a well-being check at the request of hospital staff they found a Highway 3 resident in need of medical treatment. He was taken to hospital.
•A Quebec resident reported losing his wallet a month ago.
•Police were unable to locate a person who was suspected of attempting to break in to a Ninth Avenue South residence.
•Police assisted Canadian Border Services Agency personnel by making an arrest at the Rykerts border crossing.
August 19
•A vehicle was damaged in a hit and run at the Kootenay Bay ferry terminal.
•No injuries were reported following a collision between a motorcycle and SUV on Canyon Street.
•A motorcyclist who swerved to avoid a bear on Highway 3/95 required hospital treatment.
•A motorhome collided with a deer on Highway 3/95.
•A semi went into a ditch on Lakeview-Arrow Creek Road at Highway 3A.
•Mischief to an election sign was reported on Highway 3/95.
•Two backpacks containing chainsaws and parts were stolen from outside a motel room on Northwest Boulevard.
•Gates were reported unlocked in the 1100 block of 36th Avenue.
•Hammond said charges are being pursued after a vehicle collided with a dog on Lower Wynndel Road.
August 20
•A suspicious noise in a Cedar Street home was determined to have been made by a cat.
•An Alberta vehicle went into the ditch off Erickson Road.
•A plastic portfolio containing documents and cash was found on 25th Avenue South.
•Police are investigating a report of a possible breach of no-contact conditions in the 12000 block of Highway 3.
•A driver on Nick’s Island Road North was reported to be tailgating, speeding and talking on a cellphone. He was not located.
•A vehicle was abandoned for a week at the Kootenay Bay ferry terminal.
•A male reported to be intoxicated on Canyon Street was located nearby by police, who found him attempting to climb onto a 16th Avenue balcony. He was arrested for being drunk in public.
•Two young passengers and the driver sustained minor injuries when their vehicle went off Highway 3/95 and into a ditch.
August 21
•A 78-year-old female died in her home on Cook Street of apparent natural causes.
•A rental car was not returned to a Hilton Street business.
•A dispute on 44th Street about vehicle ownership was determined to be a civil matter.
•Police were called about a dispute over property access between a separating couple on Wenger Road.
•Threats of violence were made in Yahk when a male attempted to retrieve a pickup he said he was given years ago.
•It was a dark and stormy night on Eastman Avenue in Riondel. A tree blew over and blocked the road.
•A prohibited driver has a court appearance pending after he was stopped on 24th Avenue at Erickson Road.
•An intoxicated female was refusing to leave an 11th Avenue North residence until police were called.
•The cause of a fire that destroyed a motorhome parked on 22nd Avenue North is under investigation.
August 22
•A screen door was forced open in what police believe was an attempted break-in to a Scott Street residence.
•A wallet found on 16th Avenue at Canyon Street was returned to the owner.
•A suspicious vehicle “with lots of items inside” was reported in the 4500 block of Highway 3.
•Several bottles of liquor were stolen from the 3700 block of Highway 3. A suspect was arrested and has a court appearance pending.
•A complaint about regular noisy youth parties on Beam Road was received.
•An altercation broke out when someone objected to another who had an open fire in the 11000 block of Highway 3A.
•Two complaints were received about noisy music at a Beam Road wedding.
August 23
•Trespassing dirt bikes were reported on Uri Road in Wynndel.
•Police were asked to remove an intoxicated person from a Vancouver Street residence.
•A suspicious large package wrapped in a tarp on Mount Thompson forest service road turned out to contain soil, likely destined for an outdoor grow op.