Les Kakonyi, community policing and media relations officer with Enfield RCMP, had his bags all packed for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics (Healey photo)

ENFIELD: A local RCMP officer is ready for a new experience and the challenges that await him as he heads to Vancouver to be part of the 2010 Olympics security task force.

Const. Les Kakonyi, community policing and media relations officer with Enfield RCMP, is one of 200 police officers from across Nova Scotia heading to the Olympics. He left for Vancouver Feb. 2 and will be returning March 1. His last day on the job before departing was Jan. 28.

“I will be an assistant with the collision investigative team,” Const. Kakonyi said. “My task will be to primarily do patrols along the Sea to Sky Highway, which is between Vancouver and Whistler. Our primary duty, I suspect, is to ensure the highway remains open. With the buses transporting athletes, we’ll likely be doing escort type work.”

Prior to leaving, he was unsure of what the accommodations would be like where he was staying, although he knew he was to be staying in Whistler.

“We have a briefing a day after I arrive (Feb. 3), which would highlight what my job will be,” he added. “A lot of our positions for the members that are going won’t adversely affect the regular duty member. Here, where I’m the Community Policing Officer, isn’t going to have a huge detriment on the members’ abilities to do general duties.”

Although some may see it as anything but work, Const. Kakonyi won’t get to enjoy any of the Olympic sports itself as he keeps an eye out for trouble. He’s excited to get the opportunity.

“It’s going to be a great to kind of, near the end of my career, have this opportunity. It’s nice to do a different duty then what I do here,” Const. Kakonyi said. “It also gives me the chance to see how things are done out in British Columbia, plus being at such a high-profile media event, I think it should be quite interesting. It’s an once-in-a-lifetime experience and I’m looking forward to it.”

For Const. Kakonyi, a high-calibre event like the Olympics is the prime target for something to happen, but he knows that’s why there’s such a large security force to prevent such things.

“There are always security issues,” he explained. “Given the world climate right now and the fact we’re engaged in a war with terrorists, there’s always that fear they may utilize a high-profile event like the Olympics to target. We certainly have to be vigilant over that type of thing.

“Once we get there we’ll be briefed as to what threats there might be, but it should be very interesting assignment and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

phealey@enfieldweeklypress.com