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Canwest News Service
Canada and the United States are joining security forces to police the waters of both countries during the Olympics.
The federal government says the pilot project — dubbed Shiprider pilot — is aimed at bolstering cross-border security operations in the waters of Puget Sound and off the Pacific Coast.
The project will involve several vessels from each country, with RCMP and U.S. law enforcement officers aboard each. Each vessel will have a crew of three — two RCMP members and one U.S. Coast Guard officer, or vice versa.
Officers from either side will be authorized to enforce the law on both sides of the border.
However, RCMP Sgt. Duncan Pound said the first point of contact with a suspect will be with an officer from the country where the vessel is stopped.
He said the pilot project will likely wrap up after the Olympics and legislation would be required before it could become a full-time venture.
The project allows Mounties and the U.S. Coast Guard to cross-train, share resources and personnel and utilize each others' vessels in the waters of both countries, the federal government said in a news release Wednesday.
"Together with the United States, we are sending a strong message to criminals that illegal activity at our shared border will not be tolerated, said Vic Toews, federal minister of public safety.
ticrawford@vancouversun.com
