UPDATE Council approves costs to recertify bylaw officers

UPDATE 3:15 p.m.

Vernon council has approved an expenditure of $7,600 from the RCMP reserve for required “Protective Force Option Certification” for bylaw compliance officers.

“Bylaw compliance officers interact with many different individuals throughout the community and area parks in the course of their duties. Where a circumstance begins to deteriorate, officers will make every effort to calmly de-escalate the situation to gain voluntary compliance,” Darren Lees, manager of Protective Services, stated in a report to council. “As officers may deal with members of the public who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or may be experiencing mental health difficulties causing their behaviour to be unpredictable, officer safety is paramount should a situation escalate rapidly beyond the officer’s control.”

Bylaw officers in B.C. are required to receive training and certification in protective force options for defensive use only and require recertification every three years based on B.C. provincial policing standards.

That training involves specific training in officer safety, tactical communications, handcuffing, pepper spray, collapsible baton, report writing, note taking, the legal aspects of use of force and where force is used in a defensive situation, to ensure the level of force used is appropriate for a situation.

Fire spreads to house

Vernon home "significantly damaged" by grass fire

Apr 02, 2026

Youth Health Services

Youth immunization, sexual health clinic opening in Vernon

Apr 02, 2026

Displaced For A Week

Some residents still displaced from fatal apartment fire

Apr 01, 2026

The training has in the past been provided at a nominal cost by an RCMP training officer.

Due to COVID-19, the RCMP announced in mid-November it would no longer provide the training due to health and safety concerns.

A contractor that has certified officers in several municipalities, including Penticton, has been identified to conduct the training.