Chris Clegg
Like most communities, High Prairie town council is exploring ways to fight the seemingly endless crime problem in town.
Council tells the public they are taking the matter “seriously” yet little discussion takes place at council meetings. Actually, that’s OK. No need to release crime fighting strategies to the public so the criminal element can figure out their next action to stay one step ahead of the law.
Years ago, Northern Sunrise County Councillor Dan Boisvert stated one of the best avenues of combating crime was to make it so miserable for the criminals to conduct their illegal trade, they would simply move away. The best way to achieve this goal is with police presence and the emergence of Rural Crime Watch and/or Citizens on Patrol. If criminals believe there is an eye around every corner, many will move away to another town where it’s – ahem! – easier to do business.
Which brings us back to High Prairie town council. Many do not know this but we send our peace officers to the Smoky River region to conduct law enforcement. Yes, High Prairians are paying to send its peace officers to go to Smoky River while the criminal element runs wild in town. On numerous occasions, councillors Donna Deynaka and Judy Stenhouse have opposed this agreement, preferring they fight crime at home approach.
There are two reasons council does this. One is to be a good neighbour. lt would be far too expensive for the Smoky River communities to hire its own force, or set up a force to cover the region. It is nice to be good neighbours but at what cost?
Second, and more important, council does receive money from its agreements. High Prairie does not provide the service for free. The revenue offsets the overall cost to the High Prairie taxpayer for the service. Council is reimbursed well for the service it provides.
The real question is, should town council abolish these agreements and focus on law enforcement in High Prairie, where everyone recognizes there is a crime problem? Never been seriously discussed. Even the public meeting on crime last year never addressed this possible course of action.
If the numbers were presented to the public (how many days do peace officers leave town and how much money does council receive) it would be interesting to see what the public would say.
One thing is certain. If crime was occurring while peace officers were in the Smoky River region, the victims would likely not be too pleased. Imagine if a break and enter, or serious assault, occurred while the peace officers were at Falher.
It is nice to be a good neighbour, but at what risk and at what cost?
Or, is the public willing to pay more due to loss of revenue for increased policing presence if the peace officers do not go to Smoky River?
All questions the public should ask themselves. The fact is, law enforcement is expensive.