SUNDRE - The number of property crimes reported by the Sundre RCMP in 2019 was up after a decline in 2018, but still lower than a peak in 2017.
The local detachment’s commander, Sgt. Jody Achtymichuk, presented last year’s statistics among other information to council during the regular Feb. 10 meeting.
Offering additional insight about the department, Achtymichuk said there are eight officers serving the community, including himself, a corporal and six constables.
The sergeant also outlined his detachment’s three main priorities in the department’s jurisdiction, which includes territory in Clearwater County, Mountain View County, the Municipal District of Bighorn, a little portion of Red Deer County, as well as Sundre.
“Crime reduction was the main focus,” he said, adding that includes not only identifying, but also monitoring repeat offenders.
“If there’s any repeat offenders that get out of jail or move into our area, we make it known to them that, ‘Look, we’re on top of you.’”
Individuals with any kind of court conditions at all are being checked up on, he said.
“We’re going continuously to their house if they’re on conditions,” he said.
This approach, the sergeant added, is important for two reasons. It gets members out there and familiar with the repeat offenders and it also makes clear to these individuals that they can’t just expect to lay low and stay under the radar, he said.
“Sometimes, it pushes them out of our area too. They think they can come to Sundre and hide, but we’re on top of them. Some of them do move on,” he said.
“This year, every person that we identified (as a repeat offender with conditions), we have put in jail.”
Reducing property crime was also a priority in 2019, he said.
“It’s been an issue in the area going back a few years.”
In 2017, there were 306 crimes against properties, followed by a substantial drop to 179 in 2018 before slightly increasing again last year to 221. Crimes against people, such as assault, were down last year to 71, a drop from 104 in 2018 and 100 in 2017. Property crimes were up a bit in Sundre, but more so in rural areas, he said.
“It comes in waves.”
Perpetrators are not always locals, with many coming into the community from elsewhere, he said.
“Our big problem in our detachment is oil and gas (sites),” he said, adding inventory such as batteries and copper wire are vulnerable to theft.
“It’s a continuous battle for us. We have oilfield companies that are concerned about their properties and we’re working with them to try and protect their properties.”
Broadly speaking, he said the Sundre RCMP in 2019 logged 2,693 investigations, of which 1,078 were in town.
Another police priority has been a focus on enhanced road safety and traffic enforcement, he said, adding the department receives calls and feedback about insufficient monitoring of the Highway 27 corridor.
“We do get quite a few complaints, even though we are out there, and throughout town too.”
Traffic collisions, although relatively steady, were down a bit and generally minor in nature, such as fender-benders in parking lots, he added.
Stats have also shown an increase in impaired driving files, he continued.
“With the laws changing to give us mandatory alcohol screening, we’re actually getting a lot more people off the road.”
Instances of impaired driving were up to 53 in 2019, up from 47 in 2018 and 30 in 2017.
“We really push the members to get on the road and try to be visible and make a difference in town and on the highways,” he said.
The sergeant said engaging with young people in the community is also an important priority.
“Some people think we shouldn’t influence the youth, but at the end of the day, right from when I was a little kid, I always saw the RCMP in my hometown, and I always looked up to them and wanted to be involved in some way.”
Members are encouraged to get involved in the community in a number of events that include spending time with preschool age children up to high school students, he said.
“I leave it to them what they want to focus on,” he said, adding the department also gets requests from community organizations seeking the officers’ involvement.
“This is why I became a police officer, is to have influence on the youth and enhance the safety and health of youth.”
The goal is to help foster among young people positive, respectful and socially responsible attitudes as well as values, he said.
Concluding his presentation, the sergeant said he intends to in the near future reach out to residents and businesses to solicit input on what people think should be priorities for the police.
“We’d like to hear from the community,” he said.
That approach could include surveys and town hall meetings, he said.
“Sometimes, the community has a different sight on things on what they want us to focus on.”
Coun. Cheri Funke inquired if, and how, the roundabouts’ rules are being enforced, to which Achtymichuk said officers have been keeping an eye out for infractions, resulting in numerous verbal and written warnings as well as citations issued.
“People aren’t using their signals at the right opportunity,” Achtymichuk said, adding the roundabouts are very small, which is where people encounter issues properly signalling out of the traffic calming devices.
Additionally, he said there also remains a need for education, as some motorists are not stopping when they should be.
Coun. Rob Wolfe wondered whether there is a cannabis-screening device available.
Although there is not yet such a specific device in the police tool kit, the sergeant said officers are being trained in identifying telltale indications of drug use.
“People have been convicted already from traffic stops from people who have smoked or done any other kind of drug,” he said.
Mayor Terry Leslie expressed gratitude, recalling a resident who told him police followed up after a break-in to one of his vehicles.
“There are a lot of folks behind the scenes who deeply appreciate the work that you and your members do,” said Leslie.
“The fact tonight that really sticks with me is basically every repeat offender that you have identified has gone back to jail for breach. That is the kind of information that helps the community see that you are indeed tracking, looking after, and doing the things that are necessary to be done.”
Council proceeded to accept the sergeant’s report for information.
