ATV-riding safety officers head to Kelownas rail trail [Video]

All-terrain vehicles will soon be sent up and down the Kelowna portion of the Okanagan Rail Trail to address ongoing safety concerns.

The ATVs will be ridden by community safety unit members, who will bring their specialized training to areas that are difficult to access by traditional police vehicles.

ATV riding officers will not only be looking for criminal activity, but they’ll also keep an eye out for fire risks and environmental damage that may have been caused by those camping illegally or at least not in designated areas.

“Highly maneuverable and able to traverse some of the roughest terrain, ATVs obviously give us the versatility to get into those areas quickly and conduct the necessary enforcement,” Sgt. Scott Powrie, community safety unit operations NCO, said in a press release.