Pubdate: Wed, 28 Feb 2007
Source: Vulcan Advocate (CN AB)
Copyright: 2007 Vulcan Advocate
Contact:  http://www.vulcanadvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3258
Author: Niall McKenna

INCREASE IN POLICE ACTIVITY FOR VULCAN

The Vulcan RCMP is reporting a substantial increase in complaints and 
responses over the last two years. Speaking at the Vulcan County 
council meeting Feb. 20, Cpl. Larry Wiltshire said Vulcan has moved 
up from being the 64th busiest RCMP detachment in the province to the 
48th or 49th busiest one, in terms of calls. Alberta has 112 RCMP detachments.

"And if it keeps going up, then we'll need to put another person 
here," said Wiltshire. There are currently four officers at the 
Vulcan detachment.

While year-end statistics for 2004 or 2005 were not available at 
press time, Wiltshire said the average has been between 1,100 and 
1,200 calls in recent years, which includes traffic collisions, crime 
and other offences. In 2006, the Vulcan detachment logged 1,580 calls.

According to Wiltshire, part of the reason for the increase is that 
calls in Vulcan have become consistent throughout the year. In past 
years, work was slower during winter months.

The detachment responded to six drug-related calls last year. 
Wiltshire said he has become very concerned about drug use in Vulcan 
County, including marijuana and magic mushrooms, along with drugs 
traditionally associated with cities, like crack cocaine and crystal meth.

Coun. Darryl MacDonald echoed this concern.

"There seems to be such an unknown for these kinds of drugs," said 
MacDonald. "We're still rural and probably believe that marijuana is 
about the only drug there is in this area. And, unfortunately, that's 
not the truth any more."

"So is there any way we can get better awareness out to parents?" 
MacDonald asked Wiltshire.

Wiltshire said he would like to bring in presenters from the RCMP's 
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program into area schools and 
involve parents in the presentations.

The Vulcan RCMP is also working on a Community Youth Justice Program, 
which would focus on restorative justice following a crime, as 
opposed to just jail sentences. Wiltshire said seven young people 
will take part in the start-up program this summer.

In the coming year, Wiltshire said he also wants to see better 
communication between the RCMP and provincial sheriffs, who started 
patrolling highways last September. Wiltshire said he wants to avoid 
duplicating patrols.

"It would be nice to know they're in our area," he said.

Meanwhile, the Gleichen RCMP detachment, which covers the Mossleigh 
and Arrowwood areas, says reports of crime or other activities have 
stayed even, or even dropped in areas of Vulcan County that it 
covers. There were 70 incidents reported for Mossleigh and six in 
Arrowwood in 2006.

Staff Sgt. Bob Gollan of the Gleichen RCMP, who also spoke at last 
week's council meeting, said the majority of their calls are on the 
Blackfoot Indian Reserve, just north of Vulcan County.

Nevertheless, County councillors said they believe that many thefts 
have not been accounted for in the area because many residents are 
unwilling to report them. In 2006, the Vulcan RCMP reported 81 cases 
of property theft under $5,000, and 16 cases of theft under $5,000. 
Gleichen RCMP reported only one case of property theft -- under 
$5,000 -- last year.

Gollan agreed that property theft is often underreported in rural areas.

"A lot of people are not reporting these minor crimes because they 
believe that the property will be returned," said Gollan after the 
meeting. He said many people also believe that courts are too lenient 
on those who commit "minor" property theft.

Gollan, who became head of the Gleichen RCMP in September, said he 
wants to start a rural Crimewatch program in the area. He said the 
goal would be to improve communication and trust between residents and police.

He said reporting theft is worthwhile because all stolen property, 
regardless of its value, is added to a national database. Police 
regularly check second-hand stores for goods that are reported as stolen.

"By having a rural Crimewatch, we can let the community know that it 
is important that we are aware of these smaller thefts," said Gollan.

"And if we don't address the thefts, they're going to continue."

Gollan said his detachment is also focused on reducing traffic 
collisions in the area.

Across Canada, the RCMP wants to reduce collisions causing death or 
serious injury by 30 per cent by 2010.

The Advocate is working to obtain a detailed comparison of area crime 
statistics over the past few years. Results will be published as soon 
as possible.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom