Staff Sgt. Carl Dinsdale became the commander of the Meadow Lake RCMP detachment in May 2023. Before this role, he had worked with the RCMP for nearly 29 years. (submitted/ Sask. RCMP media)

By Kenneth Cheung

POLICING

‘A safe community’: Catching up with Meadow Lake’s top Mountie on crime and community

Feb 26, 2025 | 5:00 PM

Meadow Lake’s top Mountie says crime in the area hasn’t changed much over the past five years, but building strong community partnerships—especially with First Nations—remains a top priority heading into 2025.

Staff Sgt. Carl Dinsdale, commander of the local RCMP detachment, said break-and-enters, mischief and property damage are among the most common criminal matters officers respond to in the region.

“If you look at the criminal charges world, property offences are the number one criminal matter that we tend to respond to,” Dinsdale said.

The team also keeps an eye on drug-related crime, which sometimes leads to violence.

Staff Sgt. Carl Dinsdale stands in front of the Meadow Lake detachment. (submitted/ Sask. RCMP media)

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“Sometimes we’ll see an uptick in illicit drug use, and that’ll turn our attention to gathering intelligence and identifying the traffickers that are bringing the drugs into the communities we serve,” he said.

One of the more serious incidents this year was a shooting in Waterhen Lake First Nation in February. Dinsdale said the case was resolved quickly.

“We identified and apprehended the two accused individuals quite quickly and without incident,” he said. “The investigation revealed that the conflict leading to that incident was limited to the individuals involved.”

Despite a few “black sheep” in the city, he described Meadow Lake as a “very safe community,” emphasizing that violent crime is rare — and when it does happen, it’s usually not random.

“It is very rare for there to be random victims of violent crime,” he said. “In most cases, the victim and the suspect are known to each other.”

Strengthening partnerships with First Nations

The Meadow Lake RCMP works closely with First Nations communities through Community Tripartite Agreements (CTA). These agreements assign RCMP officers specifically to these communities, allowing them to focus on proactive policing and relationship-building rather than just responding to crime.

Dinsdale emphasized the importance of this approach.

“We are not policing to their community; we are policing for their community,” he said.

Maintaining an open dialogue with First Nations leadership is key to ensuring policing is both effective and respectful, he added.

“Having those relationships and being present in the communities is important. It helps us understand the challenges they’re facing and how we can work together to keep people safe.”

Officers hold regular meetings with the surrounding First Nations’ chiefs and councils to ensure everyone remains aligned on policing activities and updates on relevant incidents.

Looking ahead

Dinsdale, who has worked in multiple provinces over nearly three decades, said he enjoys policing in Saskatchewan — and Meadow Lake in particular.

“The public that we work with and the relationships we have with them, and the support the public has for the RCMP in Saskatchewan, is fantastic,” he said. “By far, Saskatchewan communities are the most welcoming and supportive of the RCMP that I’ve seen in my time.”

Meadow Lake RCMP detachment. (screenshot/ Google Map)

As he looks ahead to 2025, Dinsdale said he is optimistic about recruitment efforts aimed at keeping the detachment well-staffed.

“We’re certainly putting Saskatchewan’s story out there and letting members of the RCMP know that it’s quite a great province to work in,” he said.

He also encouraged residents to be proactive in helping keep their communities safe.

“If you see something, say something,” Dinsdale said. “We rely on the public to be our eyes and ears because we can’t be everywhere at once. The more we work together, the safer our communities will be.”

Dinsdale said his goals for the coming year include keeping both officers and the community safe while strengthening relationships in the area.

“We always want to ensure our members are getting the support they need to stay healthy in such a stressful occupation,” he said. “At the end of the day, our job is about community safety and making sure people feel secure.”

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com