Virden’s RCMP detachment has a new commander. Staff Sgt. Joe Frizzley arrived in December and has been spending time visiting municipal councils in the region, introducing himself and getting to know the citizens and their concerns.
He delivered his first report to Virden Town Council Tuesday, Jan. 23, a monthly tradition for the detachment commander.
Frizzley’s last posting was in Thompson (where he spent 3.5 years) but he’s served in many communities across Manitoba and the far north during his 18 years with the force.
Originally a farm boy from the Treherne-Holland area in southern Manitoba, he told the Empire-Advance it was nice to return to familiar turf. His wife Shona, also a Mountie, is currently working out of the Souris detachment but hopes for a transfer to Virden.
They and their four children (Logan 7, Brock 6, Emory 5, and Rhett 1 year) have settled on an acreage just outside of Virden in the RM of Wallace-Woodworth.
One of the first challenges Frizzley faced on the new job was a decision by Brandon Correctional Centre (BCC) to require all admissions to their drunk tank during the night to be examined by a health care professional before arriving.
As we reported earlier this month, Frizzley and his officers had to quickly respond to the change with a plan of their own. Starting next month, impaired individuals will be lodged overnight in the cells at the Virden detachment.
That change created an urgent need for more part-time overnight guards. Frizzley reported during his visit to Virden council that nine applications have been submitted so far in response to the RCMP’s job posting and media outreach, a response he’s very pleased with.