Chris Clegg
The public forum on crime in High Prairie June 24 sent two clear messages to High Prairie town council: do not spend an estimated $87,000 on eight security cameras strategically placed in town and increase patrols.
Rather, the two dozen people attending favoured a low-cost approach meaning to continue efforts to have more RCMP police officers assigned in town. Citizens were not in favour of increasing spending and a subsequently higher tax bill. The estimated cost of adding an RCMP officer at $150,000 per year or town peace officer at $100,000 per year literally made some people’s hair stand on end.
Town CAO David Joy’s presentation at the meeting was outstanding. The crime stats were there (horrific as they were!) and 10 options presented with each option and its financial implication clearly identified.
But – and this is a big but – no mention was made regarding one option to increase patrols. It is to keep the Town’s peace officers at home.
Under agreements signed, sealed and delivered, the Town of High Prairie provides peace officers to Big Lakes County totaling 20 hours a month.
In addition, High Prairie peace officers also spend two eight-hour shifts per month (16 hours total) between Donnelly, Falher, Girouxville and McLennan to provide bylaw enforcement services at a fee of $60 per hour and $67 for the patrol vehicle for a total month fee of $2,032.
Sixteen hours a week in a 40-hour week is only two days but it is two days less per month the peace officers could be in High Prairie fighting crime and maintaining a presence for wannabee criminals. It is difficult to commit a crime when a peace officer might appear from around the corner.
Council never told the public about this. One wonders what the public would say if they knew. Would they say, “Stay at home and catch our thieves” or would they realize the extra cash is worth it, in addition to being good neighbour? Being a good neighbour does not catch criminals, however.
It should be noted councillors Donna Deynaka and Judy Stenhouse have always opposed sending peace officers to the Smoky River region. Their stand is to stay home and deal with crime. It is council who hires peace officers to stay at home, right?
Meanwhile, Mayor Brian Panasiuk and councillors John Dunn, Sacha Martens, James Waikle and Therese Yachshyn say they care and to be fair, they likely do. The question becomes obvious: why are you sending peace officers out of town when High Prairie’s crime rate is 376 per cent above the national average, according to Joy’s report at the meeting? When the Lawrence Apartments owner was in town a few months ago and told council takes crime seriously, one has to scratch their heads given council’s actions. Council also never told the gentleman their peace officers were leaving town to police other jurisdictions.
Keep the agreement with Big Lakes County. but trash the agreement with Smoky River communities. With a national crime rate at nearly four times the national average, it is time to keep our peace officers at home.