Province looking to give additional training to peace officers to combat rural crime

“In certain circumstances, we’ll have them be able to respond to 911 calls, potentially be a backup call for a police officer in a crisis situation, as well as deal with more traffic offences as well, impaired driving, and help alleviate the pressure that we now currently have on our police,” Schweitzer said in a phone call on Thursday.

Schweitzer says the training would include firearm training and other tactical training (Fish and Wildlife Officers and Alberta Sheriffs already have firearm training).

Redcliff RCMP currently have five sheriffs who work out of their detachment and Staff Sgt. Sean Maxwell says they’re an important part of keeping the community safe.

“They’re out on the highways an awful lot more, and that’s their job, especially the sheriffs, is traffic enforcement,” he said. “Currently they do that.

“In terms of what powers they might be given by the provincial government at this point, I don’t know, but the sheriffs are already trained, they’re out there and they’re already assisting us.”

Maxwell says it’s too early to say what impact the government’s decision will have on local policing.

“At this point, we haven’t been told what any of that training is going to look like, or if there is going to be any new powers, so it’s tough to give any specifics right now on that,” he said.

Maxwell says from January to October, Redcliff RCMP have reported a five per cent overall decrease in property crime this year, compared to 2018.

Kathleen Ganley, the Justice Critic for the NDP, says combating rural crime is an important issue for the government. When she was Justice Minister, the NDP government supported adding more RCMP officers and civilian employees to communities, which she says will have a greater impact.

“It certainly was important for us to invest in this issue, but I think that we have to recognize that it’s worth investing in,” she said over the phone from Calgary. “We shouldn’t be playing a shell game, and trying to pretend we’ve created additional boots on the ground when in fact, there aren’t any.”

Schweitzer told CHAT News that his government intends to add more RCMP officers in the future, but the RAPID Force is something the government can do right away.

“The frustration of rural Alberta is justified, their anger is justified, because the government historically have not addressed this issue sufficiently,” he said. “This is one step, the ideas came right from Albertans, and we’re going to continue listening to them.”

Schweitzer says the goal is to have the additional training completed by fall 2020.

by Charles Lefebvre

Province looking to give additional training to peace officers to combat rural crime

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