Richard Froese
South Peace News
McLennan RCMP officers were busy in 2024 as reports of crime in the Smoky River region increased slightly from 2023.
Serving the region around McLennan and Falher, the detachment responded to 1,548 calls in 2024, up from 1,480 in 2023, Cpl. Keith Staudinger says.
“Rural crime continues to be a top priority for the McLennan detachment and consumes a considerable amount of time and resources for officers,” Staudinger says.
“In particular, copper wire thefts from oilfield sites seem to be the biggest target for would-be criminals.
“In most cases, thieves sell the metals to finance their drug addictions and will go to great lengths to avoid being detected.”
Crimes of opportunity occur on a regular basis and are crimes that can generally be prevented by citizens taking basic safeguarding precautions, he says.
“We utilize a number of the techniques to investigate and work with various RCMP to combat rural crime,” Staudinger says.
“The McLennan RCMP continues to work with specialized crime-reduction units, crime scene investigators, private oilfield security officers, the police dog unit, air services and surrounding RCMP detachments to track and apprehend offenders.”
Police appreciate assistance from citizens.
“The McLennan RCMP thank residents for continuing to report suspicious activity, which has led to arrests and important information gathering on criminal groups operating in our area,” Staudinger says.
“Citizens provide a crucial role and are the eyes and ears and the RCMP would not be as effective without them.”
Criminal groups generally remain transient and crime trends up and down depending on incarceration and pressure, which can keep them out of specific areas, he says.
Reducing impaired driving is another priority for McLennan RCMP.
“Impaired driving offences have continued to trend downward year after year,” Staudinger says.
Police thank people who make wise choices and decide to take other transportation options when they have been drinking.
He adds motorists can also be impaired by other means.
“We remind people that driving high is still considered by law to be impaired,” Staudinger says.
“The RCMP have specialized techniques to detect and test drivers believed to be impaired by marijuana or other drugs.”
McLennan RCMP continues to receive a high volume of calls involving persons in mental health crisis.
Local officers utilize the services of the Regional Police and Crisis Team (RPACT) based in Grande Prairie. It is comprised of one RCMP member and a mental health therapist from Alberta Health Services. RPACT is a mobile crisis-response team qualified to intervene, assist, assess and support persons experiencing a mental health crisis.
RCMP remind people to keep their homes and vehicles locked and secure and to install security systems to help identify suspects.
Any residents who wants more information on security of property, especially on farms and acreages, is requested to contact McLennan RCMP or talk to an officer at the office.
Police encourage residents to consider registering their camera with Community Assisted Policing Through Use of Recorded Evidence (CAPTURE) online at ruralalbertacapture.ca.
Another resource is RAVE mobile safety electronic systems.
Users can register to receive alerts from Crime Watch notifications, crime prevention tips and public safety messages.
Another resource in Rural Crime Watch online.
To help officers with evidence, McLennan RCMP is scheduled to received body cameras sometime in 2025.
“The RCMP is committed to enhancing trust with the communities they serve,” Staudinger says.
“One way to increase trust is by improving transparency of police interactions with the public.”
The detachment has maintained a full contingent of officers and expects to keep a full roster, he says.
To report criminal or suspicious activity, please phone McLennan RCMP at (780)-324-3061 or phone CrimeStoppers at (1-800)-222-TIPS (8477).