Citizens on Patrol and rural crime watch groups covering Mountain View County are getting a cash injection to help reduce the impact of crime in the area.
Mountain View County (MVC) council recently approved the disbursement of $8,000 from the newly created Crime Prevention Initiative Grant to three groups.
“Due to the significant increase in rural crime throughout Alberta, Mountain View County council is evaluating various initiatives to improve community safety,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
“The grant is intended to further support local-regional initiatives and organizations that propose activities or events that have the potential to reduce the impact of crime within a large community area or throughout the county.”
Sundre Citizens on Patrol Association (SCOPA) will receive $2,000 to help fund the activities of the group.
SCOPA became an official society in February and currently has 21 members and an RCMP liaison. As of the date of application for the grant, SCOPA had eight to 10 members fully trained and patrolling.
The group is committed to patrolling the area of the county covered by the Sundre RCMP detachment which covers an area north of Twp. Rd. 320 to the northern and western county boundaries and as far east as Rge. Rd. 40.
Program costs include equipment, uniforms and signage among other items.
Olds Rural Crime Watch is receiving $4,750 to conduct a crime reduction media blitz and cover expenses related to hosting the Family Crime Prevention Tradeshow this past May.
Olds Citizens on Patrol Society is receiving $1,250 to support its ongoing program. The program re-started in the fall of 2017 after being dormant for several years.
The group works closely with the Olds RCMP detachment and is currently averaging 10 patrols per month. Members can patrol rural areas and are currently covering the Netook Industrial Park.
They have members who are rural crime watch members so there is good collaboration between the groups, the group’s application for funding stated.
With additional funding, they hope to promote the program, recruit and train more members.
Mountain View County council approved the new grant program in May and the first disbursements in recent weeks.
- With files from Dan Singleton
