DIDSBURY - Council has been updated on recent activities of the Didsbury RCMP detachment, including investigations of serious crimes and drug enforcement.
Staff Sgt. Stephen Browne appeared before council at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting as part of a policy of regular reporting to the municipality. Didsbury detachment officers patrol in town and in the surrounding district.
One of the detachment’s community priorities is serious investigations. Officers conducted five serious crime investigations in July, August and September: a domestic violence assault on July 20; a domestic violence assault on July 26; a criminal harassment on Aug. 20; mischief under $5,000 on Aug. 21; and extortion on Sept. 21.
“In all five investigations adults were charged,” Browne told council.
Regarding drug enforcement, another community priority, targeting habitual offenders has resulted in no calls for service regarding trafficking, production or possession of controlled substances during the reporting period, he said.
“During 2020 and 2021 multiple local drug dealers were arrested, charged and either jailed or pushed out of town by the consistent enforcement operations,” he said. “The result has been a reduction in the number of Didsbury residents responsible for the distribution of illicit drugs within town year to date.”
Police continue to enforce court-ordered release compliance checks on known habitual offenders, he said.
“The enforcement operations are done in partnership with the local probation officer,” he said. “Patrols through areas known to be home to criminal individuals are done multiple times on a daily basis.
“These compliance checks are a huge component in driving home our focus on reducing criminal activity within the detachment area. It makes a very strong message that their presence is not welcome.”
Local officers have continued to work with Airdrie/Innisfail integrated traffic services, resulting in 27 motorists being charged for moving/non-moving driving offences within the town during the reporting period, he said.
“Now that schools are back in, regular daily patrols through school zones and traffic enforcement in school zones is a major priority for the Didsbury detachment members,” he said.
Property crimes in Didsbury are down 47 per cent in 2022 compared with 2021, largely due to the targeting of habitual offenders, he said.
Council accepted the RCMP report as information.
