MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - County council has set policing priorities it would like the RCMP detachments in district to focus on in 2023.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
“Annually, Mountain View County is engaged on the priorities that it would like the local RCMP detachments to focus on,” Jeff Holmes, chief administrative officer, told council.
“This information is then taken by the detachment, culminated with feedback from other municipalities and stakeholders of the department into their overall strategic objectives for the upcoming year.”
The priorities outlined by council in 2022 were crime prevention and enforcement - property crime and drugs, community engagement and visibility, and mental health and domestic violence.
Deputy reeve Greg Harris, a former police officer, called on council to keep the same priorities in 2023.
“I’m a fan of keeping it exactly what we had in 2022,” said Harris. “I think it is hitting what is causing us the most difficulty or problems out in the rural area. The link between property crimes and drugs is significant; one fuels the other.
“Understanding that bringing anything else in as a priority takes people away from something else. I look at those three (priorities) and I don’t see anything I want to take away from.”
Coun. Jennifer Lutz said, “Prevention and enforcement seems to be really making hay for the community, so I would be in favour of holding the line for a little bit longer on those initiatives. They are gaining some traction.”
Reeve Angela Aalbers said traffic enforcement remains important to the rural community.
RCMP detachments in Olds, Didsbury and Sundre all patrol areas of Mountain View County. Other units, including highway traffic enforcement, are also active in the district.
Council voted to set the same policing priorities in 2023 as were in place last year.
