The Olds RCMP is urging everyone involved in using the skateboard park to use common sense and police their own conduct at the park rather than having the police follow through with enforcement activities.
Staff Sgt. Kevin Morton said he would like everyone involved to be considerate of everyone who is using the park at the time.
“Everyone needs to be a good neighbour or show respect for each other and if that doesn't happen the only option is the enforcement of the rules that exist and the creation of new rules. I would strongly encourage all people involved that have an opinion, to express it. Otherwise they're not going to see the changes that they want. Or they may see changes they don't want,” he said.
“That's not the way this should go (for RCMP to attend the park). It certainly takes the fun out of it for the kids, (for the police), and I'm not sure that's where the rest of the community wants me to be spending my time,” Morton added.
Morton made the comments after overhearing a policies and priorities discussion on the topic which councillors conducted on May 16.
While complaints about the park may have been trickling in to councillors, Morton said the RCMP haven't been hearing them.
“I really don't know what issues are going on over there in terms of behaviour or in terms of provincial or criminal offences,” he said, adding that when police do attend the park, users are on their best behaviour. “We need for the public to identify the problem and then take part in prosecution.”
As for the mandating of protective gear being used at the park, Morton said the RCMP can advise council on the issue, but it's ultimately up to that body to make a decision. He said it's important for various groups such as skateboarders, parents and town residents to realize they need to work together to find a solution to issues at the park.
“If those sub-communities don't work together to solve this then this very well could become an enforcement issue,” he said.
Morton said everyone should confront unacceptable behaviour at the park when they see it, otherwise the problem will persist. He said in situations in which that confrontation isn't taken well by the offending party, it's advisable to back off, but at least the attempt was made to confront the behaviour.
