For the first time in Yukon history, a judge has formally heard about the repercussions a crime has had on a community.

Last Thursday, Yukon territorial court was told about how the assault an RCMP officer committed impacted Carcross.

Some residents are concerned the incident has deteriorated relationships in the community and will negatively impact tourism.

“Everyone is upset about the discord this incident has caused,” the statement said.

Long-time community member Linda Pringle prepared the community impact statement after consulting with 12 people.

While it wasn’t reflective of the community, she said, it was a broad cross-section of the community. An equal number of First Nation and non-First Nation residents were interviewed.

In the statement, a number of people expressed concerns about the already-strained relationships with the police and the negative impact the incident has had on the reputation of the community.

“People are concerned that this incident has further fractured an already segregated community,” the statement reads.

“This has tainted interracial relationships and the thugs and bullies are winning (i.e. running the town).”

A number of people also said they were disappointed in the victim’s attitude, with some alleging he provoked the officer’s action.

“(I’m) disappointed in the victim’s actions – RCMP are here to help and deserve our respect,” one person expressed.

“Another person stated that the victim had expressed remorse for ‘pushing’ the offender too far.”

On May 15, 2015, Const. Jason Potter assaulted Duke Beattie.

Potter was transporting Beattie to the Whitehorse Correctional Centre after having arrested the man for allegedly breaching his probation conditions.

Potter’s lawyers argued in court that threats made against Potter and his family and a climate of tension in the community toward the officer led to the outburst of violence.

They alleged that Beattie threatened Potter’s wife minutes before the police officer stopped the car and assaulted him.

The incident led to a diminished police presence, other people noted in the statement.

“There is no fear expressed to (having) contact with the offender, the fear is due to the perception that the ‘bullies’ and young ‘thugs’ now have a free rein with less police presence.”

Another community member said in the statement that it wasn’t possible to be friendly with the RCMP nor to report offences because of potential retaliation by other residents.

Several people worried about the impact it would have on tourism and the community’s reputation.

“Carcross is seen as a rough and unfriendly place to like or visit,” the statement reads.

“Concerns were expressed that...with the perceived reputation of rampant drug and alcohol abuse, and violence, Carcross would not be considered a ‘destination spot’.”

There were also sharp differences in how residents see the community.

“First Nation members interviewed stated that every individual speaks for the community,” the statement reads.

“Non-First Nations feel that CTFN (the Carcross/Tagish First Nation) is the voice and they have no say.”

Before sentencing, victims can address the court to explain the impact the crime had on their lives.

But since legislation changed in 2015, a representative from a community can file a similar statement, called community impact statement, expressing what harm the crime has done on the entire community.

It aims to acknowledge the ripple effect a crime has on a local community, beyond the individual victim.

Both the Department of Justice and a senior court clerk said the statement is the first of its kind used in the territory since the 2015 legislative change.

The judge has to take it into account when deciding on a sentence.

Pringle, a nurse for 13 years in Carcross, told the judge she interviewed 12 people, making sure an equal number of First Nation and non-First Nation people were consulted.

She also told the court about her own bias.

She was married to an RCMP officer and has known Beattie since he was a child.

“You should know that I have very deep feelings for this community,” Pringle told Judge Heino Lilles.

“I try very hard to provide the best service to all people in the community.”

It was a challenge to prepare the statement, Pringle recognized, especially because she chose not to explain the case to people in order to not influence their responses.

She simply asked them whether they had heard about an incident involving the local RCMP detachment.

Potter, 38, was sentenced to a conditional discharge last Friday.

That means that if he abides by the conditions Lilles imposed for the next nine months, he won’t have a criminal record.

He pleaded guilty last August.

Carcross is a small community, with about 450 residents.

Except for Dawson City, Whitehorse and Watson Lake, every Yukon RCMP detachment has only three members, with usually one on duty and one on call.

Court heard last week about the challenges of policing small communities in the Yukon.

Potter and another officer were authorized to bring their RCMP handguns home because they feared for their safety. The RCMP even paid for electronic surveillance for both officers’ homes.

The Star’s calls to the Carcross/Tagish First Nation for comment were not returned by press time this afternoon.