OLDS — RCMP have named the person who will serve as the town’s new community resource officer and the date he begins his new role.
He is Const. Mitch Price, an officer currently in the Olds RCMP detachment, who has about 10 years of policing experience, Staff Sgt. Warren Wright estimates.
Price will start his new role on March 6, Wright said. Police will now look for someone to backfill his position in the detachment.
Wright, the detachment’s commanding officer, announced the filling of the position during a town hall meeting on crime, held in Olds in late January, noting it has not been filled for some time.
He and Justin Andrew, Olds’ director of protective services, elaborated on it during a Feb. 1 news conference.
In his new job, Price’s responsibilities are many.
They include working on crime reduction, community engagement, police visibility and traffic initiatives as well as domestic violence and mental health programming.
Andrew noted the community resource officer position is paid for by the town.
“It gives Warren access to resources that he traditionally wouldn’t have, because he would have to actually have one of his constables be that person to go and deal with this and that may not be their forte per se,” Andrew said.
He said while curtailing theft and the sale or consumption of illegal drugs will be part of Price’s portfolio, a big focus will be on interaction with youth, whether that’s in schools or places like the skatepark, to prevent crime or disturbances.
Wright said Price will be involved with upcoming events like the meetings on family violence and fraud.
“It’ll be taken from my plate, and on to his plate,” Wright said. “I’m doing it right now, because he’s not in place yet. But once he’s in place, he’ll be taking it on.
“I’ll still be behind the scenes, supporting him every way I can to make sure that it’s a success, but it’ll be his responsibility.”
“It is exciting that we were able to staff that position,” Wright added. “It’s the best job in the detachment – I think, anyway."
