INNISFAIL – Local Mounties could soon be riding extra high through town with new power - not by horse mind you but by ATV.
Innisfail Staff Sgt. Ian Ihme, the newly-appointed detachment commander, appeared before town council on April 10 to present his troops’ strategic priorities for the coming year, and visibility was one of them.
And one way with visibility is through the use of two brand new quads.
“All of our members are getting quad-trained three or four weeks from now,” Ihme told council. “We do use them for patrols out in the county and we talked about maybe using them a little bit more in town for that kind of high visibility.
“They're not really great for sneaking up on people, but it has almost the opposite effect,” he added. “People see us and hear us, and obviously not during sleeping hours, but it's just another tool to kind of get out there and interact with people.”
A quad is described as a recreational vehicle with four wheels while an ATV can have either two or up to six wheels.
The following day Innisfail RCMP issued a media release that the detachment started up backcountry and rural ATV patrols in early April.
Ihme said in the media release that RCMP members were out on patrol to ensure community members are following all safe riding precautions. They include: helmets; insurance and registration; liquor violations and impaired driving; ensuring proper land use.
He said Innisfail RCMP will regularly partner with other agencies for enhanced ATV patrols.
Those agencies include Red Deer County Patrol, Alberta Fish and Wildlife and Alberta Forestry Parks and Tourism.
“Starting this summer the RCMP will partner with Town of Innisfail Community Peace Officers for patrols in the parks and trails within the town,” said Ihme in the media release.
During his comments to town council on April 10, Coun. Gavin Bates noted the quad issue had been talked about during a recent Policing & Safe Community Committee meeting.
He added the recreational vehicle was also before the public at the 2023 Spring Trade Show on March 31 and April 1.
Bates wanted to know whether quads will work within the guidelines of the town’s current bylaws.
Council was told the bylaw issue is being looked at by Gary Leith, the town’s manager of fire and protective services.
“I certainly do believe that would add to visibility and mobility,” said Bates.
For more information about safe quadding Alberta Health Services has a toolkit.
