LAKELAND - Community connections and collaborative partnerships are at the forefront of National Police Week this year.
“Canada has a different style of policing than many other places in the world,” said Natalie Wright, a spokesperson for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.
Wright describes the Canadian approach as collaborative, with RCMP and municipal police services working together and with municipal and community services.
“Some of the issues like drugs, whether it be addiction or mental health issues, policing has been a strong advocate for some time for working with health and community services together in a collaborative way,” said Wright.
She said that in some cases the police become involved as a last resort, “in the absence of certain programs and services.”
“This is a growing opportunity for us to make people aware of this shared responsibility and how we can be far more impactful together than then apart. And we know that there are resources lacking in all of the sectors, so it shouldn't be one or the other. It really needs to be together,” said Wright.
There are 113 RCMP detachments in Alberta with nearly 4,200 employees, including members and civilians. According to Corporal Mathew Howell, a spokesperson for the Alberta RCMP, listening to communities and their representatives is how partnerships are built.
“In that regard, this reality is the same no matter the community that is served. That being said, a special care is taken with regards to respecting First Nations and Métis rights, cultures and wishes. This is done through many conversations, meetings and transparency with regards to policing and policing needs,” said Howell.
He said those partnerships are the most positive aspect of policing for many of their members.
“Our communities have been actively engaging in conversations with us and allowing us into their lives in order to help us better serve them. We are only as efficient as our information and partnerships and thus it is nice to see that communities are coming forward and having these candid conversations with us,” said Howell.
