In the next few weeks, once he's settled, the new commanding officer of the Olds RCMP detachment, Staff Sgt. Jim MacDonald, wants to talk with community leaders about policing priorities.
MacDonald began his new job Jan. 22. He's originally from Nova Scotia, but his latest posting was in Grande Prairie. He replaces Staff Sgt. Joe Sangster who retired after being on leave.
He has a few of his own. They include reducing property crime, targeting prolific and habitual offenders and emphasizing traffic safety.
However, MacDonald would like to set up a meeting to find out what crime fighting priorities are in the community.
He said that likely won't be a wide open public meeting involving citizens in general but instead, a gathering of town councillors in Olds and Bowden as well as county councillors and other representatives.
He hopes to hold a meeting with all those reps sometime in March. From there, the detachment will determine its policing priorities.
"Throughout the year I'll definitely be engaged with different community stakeholders and government representatives, but we also do our annual performance plan and a part of that will be getting consultation from community stakeholders to help establish what our policing goals are going be for the year," MacDonald said during an interview with the Albertan.
"That can range. (It can be) specific traffic violations, it can be specific crime patterns, it can be rural crime issues, it can be something that's happening in Olds," he added.
MacDonald said while he hasn't yet had time to talk to his fellow officers much, they have indicated to him that crime has increased in Olds over the last few years.
"They are getting more calls for service for property crimes in the area for sure," he said.
MacDonald said the downturn in the economy is likely one factor in that crime uptick but there could be other factors too.
There's a lot of different factors that affect changes in crime levels. It can be the downturn in the economy, it can be something as simple as one person who's a prolific offender moving into the community that can change the levels of crime," he said.
When asked if the Olds detachment is sufficiently staffed, MacDonald said it's too early for him to say.
"I'm really just getting my feet wet; kind of learning about the detachment at this point, learning the roles and responsibilities of the different members and staff members and just the crime in the area," he said.
When interviewed, MacDonald had not yet had a chance to meet with town officials, but he hopes to do so shortly.
"I'm really just getting my feet wet; kind of learning about the detachment at this point, learning the roles and responsibilities of the different members and staff members and just the crime in the area."
STAFF SGT. JIM MACDONALD
OLDS RCMP DETACHMENT COMMANDER
