Peace officers report

Times Contributor     

 

May reports showed Peace Officers were busy last month with 56 traffic violations respectively, three overweight tickets, one assist to another municipality, five assists to RCMP, one fire assist, one SPCA call, 10 animal complaints, one noise complaint, one unsightly premises and 10 issues requiring general reporting.

Stg. Jeff Cyr said one animal complaint was referred to the legal consultant. He added they were working with the SPCA on the spay-and-neuter program and communications were on going with the Siksika Nation regarding animal control. 

He reported the tree that council directed be cut down in a party area outside of Strathmore was removed, but he was not sure if it was too early in the season to see if it had an effect of deterring the teen population. To date there were no complaints about activity in the area.

Cyr also reported the chemical drums that were identified as sitting on a county road allowance had been removed, leaving only water tanks and an old fuel truck, for which no one claimed ownership. 

“If we are making them clean up the road allowance, then we have to go in and clean up the rest,” said Councillor Ben Armstrong, of the remaining items.

Council directed staff to have Public Works removed the remaining items. 

Officers continued to work on the off-road bylaw that will come up for public hearing. Cyr has referred it to the legal department for consultation and approval.

The peace officers work with the public, and other services included interactions with the Strathmore Wheatland Addictions Team (SWAT). SWAT gave officers their positive ticketing materials and officers will be working with the teens on handing these out. Cyr also participated in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes campaign. He donned red high heels in a walk to support Victim Services.

“I raised $540, and overall the campaign raised over $18,000, so I think it was worthwhile,” said Cyr.

Peace officers were asked to assist during the Alberta Cup in Strathmore. They wrote 11 tickets and gave four warnings for liquor and traffic offences 

“We have a good liaison relationship with them and were able to patrol in town as well as covering our own areas,” said Cyr.

Several officers had attended training sessions to upgrade skills essential to their jobs. 

Cyr said they are testing a new altered shift schedule that would positively influence the amount of overtime officers worked. The responsibility of preapproval for overtime was transferred over to the County CAO. Council previously had to approve it.