06/13/2025
RCMP working to improve service in Riverview
As Codiac Regional RCMP gets more officers, they plan to change how they are deployed to Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview
Published Jun 12, 2025 • Last updated 20 hours ago • 3 minute read
0612 tt riverview safety
Insp. Jonathan White and Supt. Benoit Jolette of Codiac Regional RCMP speak with residents of Riverview during a public safety meeting Wednesday. Photo by ALAN COCHRANE/BRUNSWICK NEWS
The Codiac Regional RCMP is working to improve service to the Town of Riverview and is looking at changing the way officers are deployed in the tri-community, top officers said during a public meeting Wednesday.
Approximately 60 residents attended a public meeting at the Riverview Kinsmen Centre Wednesday night, organized by the Riverview Neighbourhood Watch organization. Unlike a “town hall” style meeting with a microphone, the participants sat at tables with Codiac’s top officers to discuss questions and ideas about community safety, police presence in the town and crime prevention. Codiac Regional RCMP is based in Moncton and provides service to the tri-community of Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe on a cost-sharing formula, with Riverview paying over $6 million for police service in 2025, approximately 10 per cent of the overall budget.
The Codiac RCMP budget for 2025 had a 19.61 per cent increase, representing a total of $9,361,640, split between the three communities according to the cost-sharing formula. More than $1 million of this increase was for the addition of 17 new members in 2025. As of April, the force had
The force is expected to move into a new $59-million building on Albert Street later this year.
One question from the attendees was whether the force has officers that are assigned specifically to cover Riverview, which has a population of 20,000. Before the Codiac Regional RCMP was formed, Riverview had its own RCMP detachment. Insp. Jonathan White said recent budget increases have allowed Codiac to hire 17 more officers, who are being deployed into various sections. He said the force is divided into two zones, East Moncton and Dieppe; and West Moncton and Riverview. As the city’s population continues to grow, he said they plan to change that to three zones of Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe. He said the force deals with hundreds of calls each day, which are handled by priority of urgency.
Police presence, visibility and being part of the community have been common themes at public meetings with the RCMP over the last few years.
Other concerns in Riverview have included the rise in property crimes, including break-ins, thefts from vehicles and thefts of vehicles. There are also concerns about gun violence, drugs, homeless people building encampments in the woods, speeding cars and loud vehicles screeching their tires in the middle of the night. On Wednesday, RCMP issued a news release asking for public information about gunshots being fired on Munroe Street around April 25-27. Police found bullet holes in various spots on the outside of a home. At Wednesday night’s meeting, a woman who declined to be identified said her neighbour recently found a pistol in her yard and reported it to police. It turned out to be a pellet gun that looked like a real gun.
Supt. Ben Jolette, officer in charge of the Codiac Regional RCMP, said there has been increases in property crimes that are in line with the rising population, and many crimes are preventable.
“The crime rate has seen a steady increase year-to-year but the perception of crime in the greater Codiac area does not match what the numbers tell us,” he said. A few years ago, Moncton earned the top three spot in the national crime severity index, at the same time as the population was growing dramatically. Jolette said this is mainly because the RCMP keep track of everything and urge residents to report everything.
“If we compare the numbers over the last five years, we are very steady,” Jolette said, noting one category that is rising is thefts of vehicles. And in most cases, he said, cars were stolen because owners had left the keys inside or the doors unlocked. Stolen cars are often used to commit other crimes like break-ins or robberies, and then abandoned.
Social issues involving drugs and homelessness, assaults and domestic disputes continue to be a major part of the police work in Moncton. He said random acts of violence, like attacks or violence, are very rare. He said the community meetings are a good idea because they allow people to ask questions and discuss issues.
Riverview Mayor Andrew LeBlanc said the meeting was a good way to address public safety through dialogue and feedback from residents on issues like dangers in the community, police visibility, communications, response times, the impact of social issues, bylaw enforcement and how police respond to calls in order of priority
Riverview councillor Cecile Cassista said the Neighbourhood Watch started as a result of incidents that were happening the town. Neighbourhood Watch is a program where people watch out for each other. They have a page.
