Insp. Warren Dosko ended a nearly five-year run as the local detachment commander yesterday, moving on to a new posting in Red Deer.
Dosko, who announced his departure earlier this year, said he believes it was time for him to move on.
“Five years is a good run it’s a good chunk of time, you have had a chance to get the things implemented that you want to implement and see some results.”
In his time as detachment commander, Dosko championed the 40-asset program for youth, made changes to the detachment’s organizational structure, boosted the number of support staff and front line officers, and refocused the detachment on an intelligence-lead policing model.
Dosko gives much of the credit for the success of many of those programs to the front-line officers and city agencies and departments that worked with the RCMP. And he isn’t concerned that the programs he championed, especially the 40 assets program, will fade after he leaves.
“I think we have been very successful in getting that initiative rooted in the city,” he said. “A big part of the things I have done is to try to ensure that whatever I start doesn’t leave with me.”
Dosko said the safety of the community has been a joint effort between the police and the rest of the community. He said keeping the city the way it is requires a lot of work.
“Sometimes I think there is a perception we are not doing anything because it so safe, when in fact there is a ton of work that gets done to ensure it continues to stay safe.”
Dosko uses the metaphor of a duck on the water that seems calm, but just under the surface it is paddling frantically.
“Sometimes people only see the top half of the water and they don’t see all the work going on underneath.”
Dosko is particularly proud of reducing hazing and froshing incidents during his time here.
“To me that has been on of our successes over the last five years,” he said. “That is a non-issue now-a-days and credit to the kids it has been a real change in environment around the issue.”
He also said he has been pleased with reductions in theft from vehicles and vandalism that the city has experienced over the last year. He said those minor crimes will always be a problem and it is important to keep the focus on preventing them.
“It will always be one of those types of crimes where the minute you take your feet off the gas it will shoot up.”
Interviews for his replacement will take place in late November with the new inspector starting within a few months of getting the job.
He said he will definitely talk to whoever takes his office, but doesn’t plan to force his views on the new inspector.
“There are some things that you want to know and there are some things I will let them learn on their own,” he said. “They need to make their way, because they are who they are.”
