More than 100 people attended the Olds-Sundre-Didsbury Rural Crime Watch Association annual general meeting at the Cow Palace in Olds on March 28.
The meeting included the election of officers, addresses by stakeholders, and a presentation on illegal drug use.
Gerald Ingeveld was re-elected chairman of the association. He says the group is looking forward to continuing its work with stakeholder partners to protect the community at large.
In particular, efforts will continue to fight rural property crime, he said.
“All levels of government are taking notice and promising action, so that’s really good news,” said Ingeveld, who is also a director on the provincial rural crime watch association.
“The province putting some extra money towards officers will help eventually. They are taking notice in Ottawa. And our local counties have allocated money for rural crime fighting initiatives.”
The association works with RCMP and others to report criminal activities. The group also promotes landowner safety and security through workshops and a call-out system.
Mountain View County councillor Al Kemmere said rural crime watch members are playing an important role in identifying criminal activities and reporting suspicious activities to police.
“To the rural crime watch members here, thank you for what you do,” said Kemmere. “The constant messages that come across on the phone identifying things you see in the community, that’s very important and is a great tool that is being used.”
Municipalities across Alberta are looking for ways to support rural crime watch associations and citizens on patrol groups, he said.
“The partnerships that you provide are so important,” he said. “I think we need to keep working on these relationships.”
Olds RCMP Staff Sgt. Jim MacDonald said officers across the region have come to rely on citizen reports of criminal activities.
“The commitment to your communities and your neighbours is outstanding,” said MacDonald. “In times of uncertainty and challenge you really do start to see the best in people come out.
“I can certainly say that what you do is a great thing. That is very positive and something to keep in mind.
“We as the police thank you for your support and in particular for the voice you have.”
Jason Nixon, MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, has been working with crime watch associations, police and others to seek solutions to rural property crime.
“Rural crime is one of the biggest political issues in the province,” said Nixon. “I would say it is the number 1 issue we’ve been hearing about in our constituency offices right now by far.”
Crime watch groups and citizens on patrol are “having a big impact” in the fight against rural crime, he said.
“You have a role to play in this and you have value,” he said. “We are facing significant things that have to change, particularly around Criminal Code issues, making sure that property crime is being taken seriously.
“We need the House of Commons to take action on the Criminal Code side of things. The job is not done and we need to start talking about the next steps, so we will continue to do this.”
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper also attended the annual general meeting.
Many of the property crimes being committed in rural Alberta these days are being committed by drug addicts, members heard.
The association will be exploring the use of new technologies that members may be able to use to help protect their property, said Ingeveld.
One such technology involves the use of apps to track vehicles, he said.
There are 58 rural crime watch associations in the province right now, up from 46 a year ago, he noted.
