Kamloops City Council has taken another step towards its plan of getting peace officer status for Community Service Officers.

At Tuesday’s meeting, council voted 5-2 to give three readings to a bylaw that aims to define the authority of CSOs and other bylaw enforcement officers like building and fire officials in Kamloops.

Community Services Manager Will Beatty says the designation will give the officers certain rights, protections, and enforcement tools so long as they’re acting within the scope of their duties.

“We’re just asking that this council recognize and solidify the rights as peace officers to request identification and seize the property, and animals, and vehicles that we potentially have to do in the regular scope of our duty,” Beatty said. “This comes with increased training opportunities for the Community Service Officers, this comes with understanding exactly what that scope is.”

“We’re not police officers. We’re not there for provincial statute violations. We’re there for municipal bylaw violations.”

In a report to council, Beatty says bylaw enforcement officers in Kamloops would be divided into two categories – full scope officers and limited scope officers.

With both categories of officers will be able to issue bylaw notices and municipal tickets, execute search warrants related to bylaw offences, and enter a person’s property where needed, only full scope officers – the CSO department – will also be able ask a person for their identification, if required.

“That is the scope of work which we’re asking someone for ID,” Beatty said. “That could be open liquor in a park. That could be weeds that overgrown on somebody’s property if you’re proceeding with a violation for an occupant versus an owner.”

“We’re asking council to codify those rights in one solid bylaw as to what the officers are experiencing in community.”

Full scope officers will also have the ability to seize, possess, or tow a person’s property – including vehicles and animals – if they have the property authorization of a bylaw, statute, or court order.

It’s not clear when the transition to peace officers will be complete, as Beatty says the provincial framework they’ll be operating under is still unclear. When that does happen though, Kamloops CSOs will be able to issue things like speeding tickets, similar to how peace officers in Alberta are able to.

“Recently, the Province has proposed amendments and enacted a few as well in the Police Act to create space for community safety officers,” Beatty said. “The Province has provided the basic framework, but the scope and applicability, and timing of these changes are unclear.”

“In the meantime, its recommended that the City clearly define the authority of Community Services Officers and other bylaw officers in one bylaw.”

Beatty says the CSOs and other bylaw enforcement officers will not be carrying guns or other projectile weapons like tasers. Members of the RCMP – who are also listed as full scope bylaw enforcement officers – will still be permitted to carry firearms.

“In the event we had to protect ourselves we would,” he said. “It could be a baton, OC spray, or handcuffs. In the province of B.C. I have yet to see an enforcement agency in municipal bylaws carry anything that is considered lethal force.”

Councillor Katie Neustaeter, who put forward the idea to get peace officer status last year, says the changes will make it easier for CSOs to do their jobs.

“This is not about carrying tools or weapons. This is not about policing our way out of anything,” Neustaeter said. “This doesn’t change the duties of CSOs, this is what they need to more effectively be able to do their job and implement the bylaws that we’re creating and asking [them] to execute within our community.”

“This builds capacity. It supports their safety and efficacy of our staff, and it fills gaps for the RCMP as well, and we begin to pay ourselves and return dividends to ourselves as we fill in these gaps in these programs.”

The CSO program has been praised by incumbent Kamloops RCMP Superintendent Jeff Pelley as well as his predecessor Superintendent, Syd Lecky, prior to his departure in late 2022.

Councillors Nancy Bepple and Dale Bass voted against moving ahead with the plan, while Councillor Bill Sarai recused himself from the vote as his son works as a CSO.

The bylaw will go before council for final adoption at a later date, likely the July 30 meeting.