Residents in the Grand Lake area are growing frustrated by what they say is a lack of police presence.
This follows a recent shooting near Chipman which sent a 75-year-old man to hospital with serious injuries.
RCMP said the victim was shot on Sept. 1 after arriving at a home in Gaspereau Forks during a home invasion.
The police force did not release any details until three days later, leaving residents to question what happened.
Several concerned citizens from the Grand Lake area shared their frustrations at a recent council meeting.
“We’ve got people breaking into houses, shooting people. We’ve got stuff being stolen constantly,” said one unnamed resident.
Grand Lake Mayor Kevin Nicklin said he shares their concerns and is trying to get answers from the force.
Nicklin said he believes the RCMP’s system is broken, adding the force has changed how it operates.
“Police used to drive around and they were part of the community, you seen them … now to me, they’re not doing policing anymore, they’re doing investigation work,” said the mayor.
Nicklin said he is trying to set up a public town hall meeting with the RCMP and Public Safety Minister Kris Austin.
The mayor said the minister has also assured him that the province is working to get 11 more officers in the community.
