BONNYVILLE - RCMP "K" Division is going to hear it right from the source.
The Alberta RCMP will be sending client services officer Insp. Shane Rameemal to the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) convention in March, where he will sit down with the MD of Bonnyville to discuss one-on-one their concerns with rural policing.
Matt Janz, acting CAO for the municipality's Feb. 5 committee meeting, explained how in most cases, the MD prefers not to meet with provincial representatives during these types of events due to time constraints.
“But with the circumstances we’ve been dealing with with the RCMP, we think that it’s important at this time to meet with them and bring some concerns forward. Obviously we have their ear right now, so it’s probably time to continue that conversation with them."
Council was encouraged to choose three topics they would like addressed.
“We might not be able to speak to all three items, but for sure at least two,” Janz noted.
The first, which was recommended by Reeve Greg Sawchuk, was the utilization of their municipal peace officers and how to create better interaction between the RCMP and the MD's public safety department.
“I would like to see that one on there, especially because we do have so many former police officers (working in that department),” exclaimed Coun. Marc Jubinville.
Sawchuk also suggested bringing up the additional 300 RCMP members promised by the province. What the MD wants to know is how many will be coming to the Cold Lake and Bonnyville detachments.
He added, they could also inquire about the status of the MD's application for three more RCMP officers.
A hot button issue for Coun. Dana Swigart was rural policing overall.
According to Swigart, the government is currently paying for six rural RCMP officers within the MD of Bonnyville, a cost that will soon be absorbed by the municipality once the province's new police funding model comes into play.
“The federal government has paid for six rural officers and then rural stores are broken into because the members are too busy, but where are the rural officers that we’re now paying for?”
“What I hear from the policing committee is they’re responding on an on-call basis. They don’t have that extra time to do rural or town patrols, or any patrols really,” Janz detailed.
“They say that they have to go where they have to go, but I don’t think we’re given a fair shake," replied Swigart. "At least give us the officers that are already there and are supposed to be rural.”
Council agreed this was another concern they should bring up in their meeting with the police force next month. They settled on discussing rural patrols, utilization of their peace officers, and how many of the 300 new officers will be assigned to the local detachments.
“I think a meeting with “K” Division is a good one, and we have a few things for sure,” Sawchuk noted.
