The Masset RCMP detachment is anticipating a big turnover this year, with as many as seven out of nine members moving on to other detachments by this fall, Cpl. Glen Breckon told Port Clements council Monday night (Feb. 17).Sgt. Blake Ward has already left to take on a new position in 100 Mile House, Cpl. Breckon said in his quarterly report, and it may take a few months to fill his spot. Cpl. Breckon will be the acting detachment commander for now, but told council that he just found out that he is going to be transferred to work at the RCMP's BC headquarters in Surrey.Three other members are set to leave Masset this spring, and another two could follow in the fall, he said.Council members expressed concern about the large turnover, but Cpl. Breckon said the RCMP will work hard to make it as seamless as possible.Meanwhile, the number of calls for service has dropped slightly during the fall quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. The detachment received 348 calls during October, November and December 2013, down 4 percent from the 363 it received in 2012. The number of prisoners also dropped, with 33 prisoners lodged in the fall quarter of 2013, down from 42 in 2012.The number of calls coming from Masset and Old Massett was down, with a tiny increase in calls from Port Clements and a large increase in calls from the Tow Hill Road area, Cpl. Breckon said, mostly for property-related offences.Calls for crimes against people, like assault, were down significantly, although the number of property crimes rose. Cpl. Breckon said much of the increase is due to a few offenders in Masset who have been checking for unlocked vehicles and stealing items from them. Although police have been warning residents to lock their homes and vehicles, RCMP received two calls just in the past month about break and enters to houses that were not locked, he said.Councillor Urs Thomas asked how the Masset detachment's crime rate compares to the south end of the islands, and to other communities in BC. Cpl. Breckon replied that generally, the Queen Charlotte detachment handles about half the number of files Masset does."Queen Charlotte is very slow compared to other detachments in the province," he said. "Masset is about average."