BONNYVILLE – Residents that fall under the jurisdiction of the Bonnyville RCMP detachment had the opportunity to submit concerns and feedback about how policing is done through the Bonnyville RCMP’s 2021 Community Engagement initiative held from Nov. 23 to Dec. 7.
Receiving only a handful of submissions, the detachment commander S/Sgt. Sarah Parke, provided responses to concerns received from residents of the Town and MD of Bonnyville, Village of Glendon, Fort Kent, La Corey, Iron River, Therien and Kehewin Cree Nation.
Community feedback received by the detachment commander related to a lack of Public Health Order enforcement in regard to COVID-19, a lack of RCMP presence in Glendon, a lack of public communication, and a desire to see RCMP members engage in more community outreach.
In a letter released last week, Parke noted she had only received a few responses from community members.
The purpose of the community engagement initiative was to provide a venue for feedback, and allow RCMP to provide responses and/or action plans to address issues, if applicable.
“I find our community to be overall very pro-police and all the members and staff at the Bonnyville RCMP truly appreciate the encouragement and support we get from community members on a regular basis,” she said.
Lack of Public Health Order enforcement
One of the submissions received questioned the lack of apparent enforcement of the Public Health Orders at rallies and protests throughout the Lakeland.
In her letter, Parke acknowledged that there have been a number of protests, rallies and marches that have occurred in the community and across the region, in response to government public health measures. During these functions, RCMP are aware that participants may not be adhering to social distancing or other health orders.
“The RCMP response to these events must balance civil liberties and public health,” she wrote. “Although participants at an event may be subject to a fine, the RCMP are focusing on the organizers of these events and those that are actively promoting non-compliance to the Public Health Orders.”
According to Parke, the primary response of the RCMP is to educate and seek voluntary compliance of individuals or groups.
By taking this approach first, RCMP members can inform people of the specifics of the health orders and the impact that following these orders will have in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Parke also noted, “that unless there is a need for police intervention – to keep the peace or tend to a criminal matter taking place at one of these events – it is the Public Health Inspectors, under Alberta Health Services guidance, who typically engage with violators and issue any applicable fines.”
Lack of police presence in Glendon
During the engagement initiative, the detachment commander received a request to have an RCMP member stationed in the Village of Glendon.
Although the “Bonnyville Detachment conducts frequent patrols to Glendon and is aware of recent property crime activity, as well as prolific offender(s) in the area,” Parke wrote that RCMP resources are deployed based on several factors, including the area's population, the number and types of calls for services received by RCMP, as well as crime severity.
Parke said the detachment will continue to proactively patrol Glendon and encourages all community members to report all crimes to the RCMP.
“Crimes in Glendon that are not reported do not reflect the true nature of what is happening in Glendon and thus affects how the RCMP deploys its resources,” she explained.
It was also noted that persons crimes have doubled with 16 reported this year, up from eight reported incidents this time last year. However, property crime is down from 28 reported this time last year, to 22 for this year in Glendon.
“Aside from the increase in persons crimes, all other reported crime is down in Glendon,” stated the detachment commander.
The Village of Glendon and other areas are also supported by the District’s Crime Reduction Unit, which is based out of St. Paul, and a regional Crime Reduction Unit that patrols the MD of Bonnyville.
“Both units frequently patrol Glendon, as well as other communities in the Lakeland Region,” she added.
Seeking more public communication
One of the responses received spoke to the desire of wanting more public communication released by the RCMP detachment.
The participant stated they would like to see more “social network communication.”
“I know there are many things you can't say, but not saying anything is worse. Plus seeing into what the RCMP is up to would help people humanize your members,” said the respondent.
In reply, Parke pointed to the three main social media platforms that the Alberta RCMP uses to connect with the public, and stated that in order “to maintain investigational integrity and for the safety of the public and our officers, we share only that which is necessary.”
The Alberta RCMP’s social media accounts share operational content, public outreach as well as highlight community engagement and individual RCMP members.
“Social media is a powerful tool,” Parke noted. It is used by the RCMP as a means to ask the public for help if they are unable to identify offenders, locate missing or wanted individuals, and to alert residents if there will be a high police presence in their area or if they need to shelter in place.
Information on road safety, crime prevention, fraud detection and potential crime trends that the public should be aware of are also shared online, including large seizures of firearms, stolen property, or drugs.
“We also frequently share posts of members out in the communities we serve, visiting schools, attending local events or organizing safety initiative,” Parke said. “Posts also spotlight various units such as Police Dog Services, the Explosive Disposal Unit, Serious Crimes Branch, Major Crimes Unit... so that the public can understand some of the more nuanced units that make up the Alberta RCMP.”
Members of the public can stay informed of with the happenings of the Alberta RCMP through Facebook (@RCMPinAlberta), Twitter (@RCMPAlberta), and Instagram (@rcmpalbertagrc).
Seeking greater RCMP involvement in the community
Another respondent stated, “I would like to see the RCMP members engaging more frequently with the non-profits in the community. I understand the constant pressure and lack of members, but it would be more helpful if the RCMP were seen as part of the community and not 'in but separate' from the community.”
Parke, who joined the RCMP over 20 years ago said, “while catching criminals and enforcing the law... are main components of being a police officer, I quickly learned that community policing was a main pillar of how the RCMP operates on the day to day.”
She went on to list the numerous community events that the local detachment engages in on a regular basis.
“While I can’t speak to all of them, I can speak to some of the initiatives and programs that the members of the Bonnyville RCMP are involved in.” She continued, “We have helped serve Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners put on by the Bonnyville Friendship Centre, we participate in Victim Services’ annual Charity Checkstop during the holiday season to help raise toys and food for members of our community, we hold an annual Pack the Police Car where we collect food donations for our local food banks – we just collected over 4,200 lbs of food earlier this month during this initiative.”
Depending on staff’s work schedules, members volunteer their own time to participate in events such as the Halloween Safety Program, Remembrance Day ceremonies and Canada Day parades, she said.
“You will also find RCMP members in our local schools volunteering to assist with initiatives such as breakfast programs, flipping pancakes, running in the annual Colour Run, putting on presentations, just to name a few.”
