SUNDRE – Sundre RCMP detachment members are aware that the possession and trafficking of illicit narcotics remains a concern in the community.
But drug investigations depend heavily on information provided by the public, says Cpl. Courtney Harding, the Sundre RCMP detachment’s acting commander.
The corporal was presenting to council the detachment's second quarter statistics for 2024 during the Nov. 25 meeting alongside her colleague Cpl. Lindsey Anderson, who is on assignment out of Airdrie.
The quarter spans from July 1 to Sept. 30 with the same period from last year included for comparison. In 2023 and 2024, there were two drug offences filed. They included both trafficking and possession. From January to December in 2022 there was a total of 11 offences and in 2023 there were 14, according to the crime stats report included in council’s agenda package that can be found on the town’s website.
“We know that drugs are a concern in this community and they certainly drive other social concerns, whether it’s mental health or assaults or other crimes,” said Harding.
“So we know it’s an issue. What we would hope to be getting from the community at this time to increase our enforcement of drugs and drug-related crimes, would be the reporting of that,” she said.
“We really count on members of the public in the town of Sundre to report to us any suspicious activity,” she said. “We need that information and those tips to come forward to us so we can push forward with some investigations and start tackling the drug problems.”
The corporal recommends submitting information either by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or alternatively by reporting online through P3 Tips.
Going over other highlights from the quarter’s statistics, Harding also noted a substantial increase in Mental Health Act investigations, which were up to 32 in 2024 from 17 in the same period last year, representing an 88 per cent increase.
The corporal was pleased to report motor vehicle collisions involving injuries were down to six files from 13, or a 54 per cent drop. Total collisions were also down to 61 from 76, or a decrease of 20 per cent, with roadside suspensions resulting from impaired operations down slightly to eight charges from 10 that quarter.
Instances of reported domestic violence were also on a downward trend to 21 from 29.
Files that involved a Mental Health Act Form 10 apprehension saw an increase to five from two.
And although persons crimes were up by one file to 49 from 48, the number of reported sexual assaults dropped down to one from five. Assault, on the other hand, was up to 26 files from 20, she said, adding that nevertheless remained down about 40 per cent from the four-year trend with 42 instances in the second quarter of 2020.
Meanwhile, property crime including break-and-enters were up in the quarter by two files to 12 from 14, which the corporal said she largely attributed to prolific offenders that were out of custody.
“We’re actively monitoring six offenders right now who are on release in the community with curfew-imposed conditions by the courts,” she said.
Following her presentation, some members of council brought up a few questions.
Coun. Todd Dalke asked if the members had plans to work on raising public awareness about steps people can take to reduce their odds of being targeted by theft.
The corporal said that while the detachment isn’t currently conducting any such educational campaigns, that the Alberta RCMP generally speaking has ongoing programs and also issues regular reminders outlining tips to keep in mind, especially with the onset of winter.
“The big issue we would see, especially during the winter, would be when people are leaving their vehicles running and the doors are open,” said Harding.
Dalke also sought further insight regarding the drug enforcement activity and asked about the possibility of getting a clearer picture of the situation.
“Drug really is a wide phrase,” he said. “Are we Breaking Bad, or are we more Webster-like?”
Following the legalization of cannabis, the focus has shifted more towards hard drugs such as fentanyl and meth, which can both cause overdoses, said Harding, adding the Sundre RCMP is aware of concerns that exist in the community with regards to trafficking.
Noting there were only two drug offences that were filed in both the 2023 and 2024 quarters from July to September, Dalke also asked about the interactions that involve illegal drugs.
“The enforcement of drugs can be tricky,” said Harding.
“We just can’t arbitrarily search somebody or search their vehicles; we do have to have the grounds to do that,” she said. “We really do count on a lot of information to come forward to us so we can start tackling the trafficking and possession.”
Anderson also said it’s important to identify which drug is the primary cause of concern and where the substance is coming from. But that is easier said than done, she added.
“No one that’s doing drugs that I know wants to rat anybody out; that’s one of the challenges of that drug investigation world,” she said.
Harding said traffickers typically have connections outside of the community and that while police tend to know who many of the players are, that such investigations require a lot of evidence and time to enforce.
Coun. Owen Petersen asked if there might be any opportunities for a demonstration on the body-worn cameras that the RCMP is rolling out across the country.
The corporal said that was too soon to say as the detachment had as of the time of the meeting not yet received the new equipment and that members were in the early stages of training.
Harding said in response to another question by Dalke that the process to update the detachment’s 2025 priorities – which include some set out by K Division such as crime reduction with others determined by input from council and the community – will begin early in the new year.
Council carried a motion accepting the report for information.
