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Study begins to examine detachment’s resources
Mac Olsen
for South Peace News
A police methodology resource study for the High Prairie RCMP Detachment will be completed as soon as possible, promises S/Sgt. Karen Simon, a district advisory non-commissioned officer for the Western Alberta “K” District in Grande Prairie.
Wanting to meet with the High Prairie town council, Simon made a presentation at their Oct. 14 meeting to discuss the study and other issues.
“One of the things I understand that you were asking questions about was the police methodology resource study that is being done by retired superintendent Peter Fullbrandt,” says Simon. “He’s working very diligently at getting them done.”
The superintendent is working on two municipal contracts and will make High Prairie a priority. Hopefully it will be completed before the end of 2009, she adds.
Factors taken into account include the crime types, decreases and increases in crime rates and demographic shifts, if any, which have taken place in the communities. The superintendent also examines the scheduling to ensure it’s efficient.
S/Sgt. Steven Daley has been requesting the High Prairie study since he arrived in September 2007.
“It will let us know where our staffing level is,” says Daley.
High Prairie is not the only community in need of more resources. Simon says “K” District, which has 26 detachments and covers from the Northwest Territories to Jasper, from the B.C. border to Drayton Valley, examines its resources annually.
“Each year, we get together as a district and take a look at where we’re in need of the most resources within that period of time,” she says.
For 2009/10, the district submitted business cases for an additional officer and an additional support staff member for High Prairie. However, the economy has changed the way the provincial government is doing business.
“As of today, there has been no call up for any resources for the past year and we don’t anticipate there to be a call up for any resources. In that case, we will continue with the same business case into the next year.”
One option being considered is utilizing provincial sheriffs for some policing tasks.
Simon says some sheriffs are being utilized for highway patrol in the Whitecourt area to determine if it’s a viable option. They are working under RCMP supervision and she says it’s going very well so far.
Councillor Wayne Forrester, a member of the protective services committee, asked if the sheriff program would come to High Prairie. Daley says the focus is presently on larger highways such as the one to Fort McMurray.
“I have not heard of plans to expand to other areas as yet,” Daley says.
Forrester says the Alberta Government should follow through and utilize the sheriffs for highway patrol, to make it a provincial function. However, the evaluation has to be finished first and provincial budget issues will probably mean a delay, he adds.
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