Hold and Secure

This past week has been a change from normal routine in Kindersley. With the discovery of a cut monitoring device of Michael Shawn Stanley in Lloydminster and the siting of a purple late model SUV in Kindersley and West Central Saskatchewan things have tightened up.

Michael Stanley - currently thought to be clean shaven.

Here is a picture of the suspect.



The RCMP, the Town, and school leaders have been working hard to keep our community safe. Here are some things the Town is doing.

The Emergency Plan is being used by the Town, Sun West, and the RCMP including communicating as much as possible about the situation and the current status. We are being cautious and following police instructions. It is possible that the suspect has moved on but until he is apprehended it is best to be cautious. Parents, be vigilant and diligent and don't let you children out unsupervised.



Here are some things we are doing with our sons:

• Strangers are people we don't know, not all strangers want to harm us but we can't be sure. Avoid strangers who want to give you something or take you somewhere.
• Educate so they have some guidelines to make safe choices when confronted by a stranger. We don't want to create anxiety or panic but confident decision making.
• Play in safe areas with friends or adult supervision.
• Don't be out alone after dark.
• If a someone grabs you when you don't want to be make lots of noise and say things like: "You're not my mom/dad!
• My observation is that most people have been sensible and prudent.

The RCMP are working on this and there will come a time, hopefully sooner than later, when the suspect will be apprehended. The Justice Minister, Peter MacKay, has been in contact with local officials to offer his support as well.

The justice system is not perfect and I am confident that the relevant officials will be reviewing the circumstances leading to the escape of the suspect.

After this event is in the past our local officials will be sitting down as a group to review the incident including:

• did the emergency plan work as we hoped?
• what worked well?
• what opportunities for improvement (OFIs) have been found?
• was information shared in a timely fashion?

This interruption will last for a bit and then our normal routines will resume.

If you would like to view my interview on CTV national news please click here.

Here is a link to the Saskatoon CTV coverage including local people, including me, speaking.