Richard Froese
South Peace News

Lakeshore Regional Police Service reports a fairly quiet holiday season over Christmas and New Year’s.

Lakeshore responded to mostly social issues, says Dean Syniak, chief of police.

He was impressed that police had to deal with only a few impaired drivers.

“I am happy to see the low number of violations, let alone the lack of impaired drivers,” Syniak says.

“It is clear that the message regarding drinking and driving, or using alternative methods of impairment, is getting across to the majority.”

Lakeshore officers completed several checkstops in each of its service communities and were sometimes assisted by Faust RCMP, High Prairie RCMP and Alberta Sheriffs.

A total of 293 vehicles were checked at various checkstops in 2024, says Syniak, who was promoted to the top post April 1, 2024 and has worked for Lakeshore since 2010 before he became inspector in 2020.

Each driver was tested by a Mandatory Alcohol Screening Device and only one driver was found to be impaired.

Three other drivers were charged for impaired operation and other offences during regular patrols.

Lakeshore responded to various calls for service in communities it serves and to assist the RCMP.

Based at Driftpile Cree Nation, Lakeshore also serves Sucker Creek First Nation, Kapawe’no First Nation and Swan River First Nation in the High Prairie region and Sawridge First Nation in the Slave Lake area.

Lakeshore has four members trained in Standard Field Sobriety Testing and most recently one member completed training and become a National Drug Recognition Expert to focus specifically on drug impairment.

The Lakeshore member is the first First Nations police officer in Alberta to complete the training, Syniak says.

Road and weather conditions for the most part were good with a little bit of freezing rain and cooler temperatures throughout December.