County supports request for crime reduction

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Gleichen RCMP is asking for a new position to be created to fight rural crime – and Wheatland County is voicing its support.
The Gleichen RCMP detachment has requested the creation of a position specializing in crime reduction. On March 23, Wheatland County council voted unanimously in favour of providing a letter in support of the creation of the position.
The request was made so the detachment can be more proactive in addressing rural crime, including drug trafficking and organized crime, said Gleichen RCMP Staff Sgt. Tim Kelly.
“Gleichen detachment is a busy detachment, and our members are going call-to-call quite often, and they don’t have a lot of time on their hands to be proactive,” said Kelly. “We want a position to help us stay ahead of the curve with rural crime.”
The position would be staffed with a regular RCMP member with experience in force handling, search warrants and other major file experience, he said.
“We would hopefully get somebody who comes with experience and can hit the ground running,” said Kelly.
The rural crime specialist will “help develop immediate strategies to help mitigate and reduce rural crime,” said Amber Link, Wheatland County Reeve and Division 2 Councillor. The position, she added, is needed.
“Our council is committed to taking whatever creative and constructive measures we can to help reduce the impacts of rural crime in our region,” said Link. “We want residents to feel safe in their homes and their communities, and I think a position like that will assist in doing that.”
Council voted to provide a letter of support to provide emphasis to decision makers within the RCMP that the position is warranted in the area, said Link.
Rural crime is one of the top issues elected leaders throughout Alberta are working to solve, she added.
“Obviously rural crime is not exclusive to Wheatland County – we see it throughout Alberta,” said Link. “I hear from a lot of my fellow municipally-elected officials that it’s an escalating issue.”