Officers at the Sundre RCMP detachment responded to 4,470 calls in 2010, including 2,433 in the Town of Sundre. By way of comparison, in 2009 officers responded to 4,678 calls, including 2,850 in town.
Sundre RCMP Sgt. Percy Leipnitz presented 2010 crime statistics to town councillors during last week's regularly scheduled council meeting.
There were 136 persons crime calls, 410 property calls, 127 other Criminal Code calls and 107 traffic calls in the detachment last year.
Of the persons crimes, 87.5 per cent were cleared, 40.2 per cent of property crimes, 84.2 per cent of other Criminal Code calls, and 50.8 per cent of traffic calls.
There were 73 assault calls, 63 other persons calls, 54 break and enter calls, 25 break and enter calls, 186 mischief calls, 27 fraud calls, 73 drug calls, 227 provincial statute calls, 29 municipal bylaw calls.
On the traffic side, there were 27 fail to remain at scene calls, 19 dangerous and careless driving calls, 31 suspended driver calls, 918 speeding, insurance, seatbelt, and other provincial calls, five traffic bylaw calls, 82 24-hour alcohol driving suspensions, and 107 impaired driving calls.
There were 392 collisions reported in the detachment area, including 108 in town.
Officers responded to 115 false alarms, 42 missing person information requests, 377 criminal record checks, and conducted 11 school talks.
Overall, compared with 2009, in 2010 overall Criminal Code offences were down, provincial offences were up, provincial traffic were down, and collisions were up.
ìIt was a pretty good year overall and we are keeping on top of it,î said Sgt. Leipnitz. ìOverall our clearance rates are pretty good.î
Public calls and tips remain an important part of keeping the community safe, he said.
ìPolice work is as good as the eyes and ears of the public,î he said.
He said the detachment will continue to urge people to come forward with information.
The detachment's community plan for 2011 will include proactive drug enforcement and search warrant execution, police and youth at risk interaction sessions, and presentation sessions for seniors.
The community traffic plan for 2011 will include numerous speeding enforcement initiatives and bicycle safety promotion.
ìThe Sundre detachment is in the process of getting a speed board which will be utilized in areas of concern to bring speeding awareness to the public and reach our proactive target goal before the end of March,î he said.
The Sundre detachment was also approved for the enhanced visibility operational plan, along for 200 hours of extra shifts, which will mainly target designated speeding areas of concern, he said.
Mayor Annette Clews asked Leipnitz about domestic violence in town.
ìIt's here and we do get calls on it,î said Leipnitz. ìIt would be nice to bring it down to zero.î
The detachment has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to domestic violence, meaning if officers see there is sufficient evidence to charge, they do so, he said.
