The Olds RCMP is putting its focus on reducing illegal drugs, targeting impaired driving and having more of a presence at schools during 2013.
The force outlined its main priorities for 2013 with the Olds and District Community Policing Advisory Society on March 26.
Acting Cpl. S.D. Bereza said the force wants to reduce the number of drug charges it laid in 2012, which spiked by 70 per cent over 2011 numbers. He said while the increase appeared to be large, he viewed it as a positive development in that people who were bringing the illicit substances into Olds are being arrested and charged.
He said Olds RCMP members used community information sources to good effect, made several roadside stops and used general investigation techniques in 2012, which resulted in the increased number of charges. Bereza said members want to continue with these techniques throughout the rest of 2013 to discourage the drug trade and bring down those numbers.
“We want to make sure that we're going to continue that … so it's going to deter people from bringing drugs into town. We don't want them in town if we can help it and that's the goal. I know the community of Olds would be much appreciative of us eliminating that problem,” he said.
Bereza said he wouldn't characterize the issue as a problem in Olds. He said the main drug of choice appears to be marijuana, with lesser amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine also circulating.
Bereza said police will remain vigilant on Highway 2 and Highway 27, cutting off as many drug transportation routes as possible.
Reducing impaired driving will also continue to be a main focus. The RCMP will be getting a new Intoxilyzer at the detachment later this year. Bereza said the new instrument is much more reliable than the technology that is currently used to detect when drivers are impaired.
The detachment will also be getting new roadside breath-screening devices.
“Because there's so many people to train in the province of Alberta … they have to be (re-certified) on that new instrument, we're probably looking at the middle of summer (before it arrives),” he said.
The RCMP also intends to do more community relations, go into the schools and make its presence known in the community.
“We want to get out and just be more of a presence with the youth. Our liaisons will be in the schools a little more,” Bereza said.
