The Portage la Prairie detachment of the RCMP is experiencing some changes in what areas they'll police in 2016.

Inspector Rick Head outlines the adjustments.

"We're going to continue what we've been doing. As you may know, we will be having some coming changes to ourselves through the organization here locally. We are transitioning the policing of the Long Plain community over to the Dakota Ojibway Police Service. That occurs early in January. So, that'll be a little bit of a readjustment for us. Of course, we'll still be in partnership with them, and we'll work with them, and continue to build good partnerships. They police different aboriginal communities around, so they've been asked to take on the policing of the Long Plain community. So, we're going to transition out of that. They'll be the main service provider for that community. But we'll still be a support and we are great partners, will continue to move forward, and work together."

Head says a slight adjustment to staffing will take place.

"Our complement will be staying the same. We'll reduce a couple of numbers in the RM side of things because of the transitioning out of the Long Plain. So, there'll be less demands on us for call service to the RM area. As for the city, our numbers will stay the same. And we're going to work with what we have."

Head notes they're also making efforts to ensure their police services are up to par.

"And we're going to also work closely with our councils, and make sure everybody is pleased with the level of policing that they're getting. These will be very early goals for us. We're hoping to do some work to mobilize the community a little more with us, work toward helping people at risk, especially youth at risk, if we can work collaboratively with a lot of our other groups in the communities."

Head adds, "We've seen some progress last year. Crime continues to fall throughout Canada, and that has also impacted us positively. Although we're still quite busy, we recognize there's still lots of work to do, we're positive about the future. We feel that we're going to continue to have a positive impact in the community as we continue to build relationships. We have amazing investigators. A lot of the new young people that are coming in are tremendous. I certainly want to boast of all the folks I have working for me. They're a tremendous team and we work so well together. They solve lots of crime, and they really have a positive impact on the community. We're excited about the new year and facing any challenges that come. It's going to be a great year."