After more than two years without a sergeant, the Sundre RCMP detachment has filled the position.
Sundre RCMP Sgt. Jim Lank comes to Sundre with 27 years of service with the RCMP, and it's not his first time serving the community.
Lank worked as a constable in Sundre from 1998 to 2006 and says he is glad to be back.
“I had the opportunity to come back as the detachment commander and I jumped on it right away because I am very fond of the community and the area and the people, so I am very pleased to be back,” said Lank.
He returned on Sept. 2, and already has a list of priorities for the detachment.
Most importantly, he wants to ensure that investigations are top quality and conducted in a timely manner. Client satisfaction and accountability are important to him.
One of his main objectives for the year is to enhance safety of youth in the community. As part of this, officers will engage in informal interactions with youth to develop positive relationships.
“So it's more than just saying hello to a youth at a service station. That doesn't quite cut it. But stopping in at the school simply over lunch hour and having lunch with a group of teens. Or going to the skateboard park and talking with, and maybe even hopping on a skateboard and liaising with the youth a little bit,” he said.
Another objective is to reduce oilfield crimes, which typically involve vandalism, as well as break and enters and thefts, he said. There were 32 oilfield crimes reported in the detachment area last year, and so far this year there has only been six.
Another priority is dealing with elder abuse, including fraud, as well as physical and mental abuse against elders, he said.
Lank hopes to work closely with the community to deal with social issues, and is an advocate for community mobilization.
These social issues include drug and alcohol dependency, domestic violence, family, housing, education and mental health, he said.
“I feel it's very important for all of the key agencies to work very closely together in dealing with those social issues,” he said, adding the key agencies include child and family services, health services, mental health workers, fire and ambulance, and both schools.
“The police are only one small segment of the key to a healthy community.”
He would also like to see a new detachment building in Sundre and he presented the request to council not long after taking on the sergeant position.
He says the current building is old and too small for the eight officers currently working at the detachment.
“It really doesn't meet our needs any longer,” he said, adding he would like the location of a new detachment building not in a residential area, as it currently is.
“When there's emergency vehicles coming and going all the time, it's not desirable to be in a residential area like we are.”
He is hoping to work with the Town of Sundre, Mountain View County, Clearwater County, the provincial government as well as the federal government, to provide funding for a new building. He mentioned that a tri-services building would be a good option to look at.
He also said distracted driving is a major traffic issue throughout the province and would like to crack down on it as much as possible. Officers will also be conducting their annual checkstop campaign in December, he noted.
Lank graduated with a degree in criminology at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., prior to his career with the RCMP.
He joined the RCMP in 1998, after graduating from basic training in Regina, Sask., and was posted in Fort Nelson, B.C. for three years.
After that he transferred to Kimberley, B.C. for seven years, then came to Sundre for seven years, and transferred to Ponoka in 2006 for three years where he was promoted to corporal.
He was later promoted to sergeant at the Maskwacis detachment, formerly known as Hobbema, where he served for five years, before returning to Sundre.
Lank was born in Moose Jaw, Sask. and moved around a lot while growing up. He calls Ponoka his hometown. He went to high school in Ponoka and a lot of his family lives there.
However, he is excited to be back in Sundre and plans to retire here. He is 51 years old and says this will be his last posting. He plans to reach 30 years of service with the RCMP.
“After I'm finished my career with the RCMP I plan to retire here and do something else, start another career or another job, whatever that may be. But I definitely plan to stay here because I'm very fond of this area,” he said.
Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his wife Traci and his two daughters Kelsey, 21, and Amy, 19. He also enjoys the outdoors, camping, quadding, fishing, hunting and golfing.
He originally became interested in becoming a Mountie at age 19 when his best friend was looking into it.
“I've always aspired to the Mountie in red serge. We're one of Canada's strongest symbols. And I think for the most part Canadians are proud of our Mounties. I know I am very proud to be a member of the RCMP,” he said.
“I know I'm not going to change the world but if I can do the very best job that I can do being a policeman – even if it's dealing with a situation or resolving a situation or helping just one person at a time – then I've always aspired to that, to try and make a difference, even if it's a little bit.”
