SUNDRE – Statistics tracked by the Sundre RCMP indicate substantial increases in both impaired driving as well as Mental Health Act investigations.
With respect to alcohol-related instances of impaired driving that ultimately led to roadside suspensions, the number went up to 31 in 2024 from 23 the year prior, representing a 35 per cent increase, said Cpl. Courtney Harding, the Sundre RCMP detachment’s acting commander.
“If we look back five years (from 2020 to 2024), it’s actually a 933 per cent increase,” said Harding, who addressed council on March 10 during a regular meeting.
“I do have a significant concern with regards to that,” the corporal said.
“Obviously there’s a problem with impaired driving in the community that I think we need to focus on for the upcoming year.”
According to the department’s statistics, there were three alcohol-related roadside suspensions in 2020. Drug-related roadside suspensions have largely been nil, with only one file in both 2021 and 2022.
Complaints pertaining to the Mental Health Act throughout the span of the five-year average have surged over the past couple of years. While there were 69, 68 and 52 files respectively from 2020 to 2022, that number jumped up to 91 in 2023 and then 111 in 2024. That’s a 61 per cent hike over five years and a 22 per cent bump year-over-year.
“We are seeing a huge increase,” said Harding.
Coun. Chris Vardas asked the corporal if the increased number of impaired motorists might be partly attributed to a lingering post-COVID relief with some people still relishing the opportunity to go out even though it’s been a couple of years since the pandemic was declared over by the World Health Organization.
“(And) how would you suggest to straighten that ship out?” he asked.
Harding said commenting on whether the increase has anything to do with post-COVID attitudes is difficult given how much time has passed since restrictions were lifted.
“I believe that impaired operation is likely always a problem, and it is in every community certainly. Some of it boils down to the amount of enforcement that is involved,” she said.
“It’s something that likely wasn’t being detected before,” she later added.
“Right now, our enforcement at our detachment for impaired driving has really spiked, and we’re getting results. We have a new, very keen young junior member who is very proactive in looking for impaired drivers,” she said.
“If we’re able to find these impaired drivers so easily, there’s a problem,” she said, adding traffic enforcement and prevention education are among the available strategies to address the situation.
Vardas also asked the corporal if there’s anything council or the municipality could do with regards to mental health.
“Mental health is tough because there’s so many factors that can contribute to that,” said Harding, adding there are various social stressors impacting people’s mental well-being such as employment and financial instability.
Coun. Jaime Marr asked if the municipality’s bylaw and community peace officers have to some extent been able to alleviate the RCMP’s workload as it relates to traffic enforcement.
“Absolutely,” said Harding, adding she’s on occasion been able to lean on the bylaw officers for assistance when she’s tied up with other criminal code matters.
“It’s hugely beneficial for us to have them in town,” she said.
Coun. Todd Dalke asked if speeding drivers and impaired motorists tended to be local or if they were coming in from other communities.
The corporal said regular traffic enforcement infractions are often motorists from outside the community driving along highways 22 or 27, but that there are a number of residents local to the area who make the decision to get behind the wheel impaired.
Mayor Richard Warnock sought clarity as to whether charges of driving under the influence are mostly the result of alcohol or other drugs.
“Alcohol,” Harding said without hesitation, acknowledging there are always a few investigations pertaining to other forms of impairment.
“But not nearly as many as alcohol,” she said.
The department’s statistics also showed a 19 per cent decrease in total persons crimes over the last five years with a peak of 219 files in 2020 and a dip of 133 in 2022. However, there was a seven per cent increase to 178 in 2024 from 167 in 2023.
Total property crimes – while up a bit by nine per cent over the five-year average with a peak of 518 in 2022 and a dip of 340 in 2020 – seem to have stabilized over the last couple years with the number of files flatlined at 369 in both 2023 and 2024.
The corporal also sought council’s input towards identifying priorities for 2025-26. The detachment’s 2024-25 priorities were police community relations, crime reduction, mental health and substance abuse as well as traffic enforcement with a focus on speeding.
There was a consensus among council that traffic enforcement should remain a top priority, especially with the upcoming construction season for the rehabilitation of Highway 27-Main Avenue that is expected to last until well into the fall, while addictions and mental health as well as reducing property crime were also brought up.
Now that the municipality has an expanded capacity through the bylaw and community peace officers, Dalke asked if there might be an opportunity for the RCMP to focus on other priorities beyond traffic enforcement.
“That’s not your job, fully,” he said. “I understand the priority, but I would rather (police) stopping other (crimes) than giving a speeding ticket, within reason obviously.”
The corporal said there are many benefits to vehicle stops that can also enable officers to check for signs of impairment, drugs, or even persons with outstanding warrants.
There’s also an opportunity to educate and work with motorists and by extension build on positive community relations, she said.
