Council discusses possibility of private security patrols

It might be time for Barrhead’s business community to hire a private patrol service.

That is what Town of Barrhead Coun. Don Smith suggested during council’s Sept. 10 meeting.

“I think the time has come,” he said. “I think if the [Barrhead and District Chamber of Commerce] or another group asked if they would contribute funds towards hiring a private security company, they would go for it.”

In recent months, several Town of Barrhead businesses have reported that they have been the victims of late-night break and enters and robberies.

He said when a group of businesses hired a private security firm about 20 years ago to conduct late-night patrols, its members saw a noticeable reduction in crime.

Smith made the suggestion following a discussion initiated by Coun. Dausen Kluin who questioned chief administrative officer Edward LeBlanc and mayor Dave McKenzie’s how their Sept. 4 meeting with RCMP Chief Supt. Wendel Reimer went.

McKenzie and LeBlanc said the meeting went well and that Reimer was receptive to their questions and concerns.

One of the concerns they brought up is the lack of a student resource officer (SRO).

Because the SRO is over and above the Barrhead RCMP Detachment’s contingent the position is funded between the Pembina Hills Public Schools, Town of Barrhead and County of Barrhead as well as Woodlands County. The position has been vacant since June 2018.

Reimer noted that they have someone interested in the position, but until the member can sell his home in Fort McMurray it will likely remain vacant.

McKenzie said Reimer told them the RCMP are looking into new ways to deliver policing services to rural communities to improve outcomes.

Smith interjected, asking if that new model included additional support staff which could help RCMP members deal with the increasing amount of paperwork they are faced with.

“If they have to spend time working at their desk they are not out in the community. I’d rather see a member on the road than working a file,” he said.

McKenzie said it wasn’t as easy as hiring an additional support clerk.

“Some of the support staff can’t deal with documents because they are evidence or court sensitive,” he said, noting when RCMP members are doing paperwork they are not just filing a report. “They are building a solid case.”

He added it also seems the amount and difficulty of the paperwork police have to file is getting more complicated and time-consuming.

“In my day [McKenzie is a retired RCMP senior constable] it took three-hours to process an impaired driver, now it is closer to eight,” McKenzie said. “The justice system doesn’t do the members any favours.”

McKenzie said while he sympathizes with those in the community who have fallen victim of crime some of the things that people have been posting hasn’t been helpful.

He also said the general public is under the misconception that the police are responsible for crime prevention.

“That is everybody’s job,” McKenzie said. “It is our job to lock up your car, put your stuff in the garage and lock it. An officer’s job is crime detection. That is what they do patrols for — they want to find the bad guys. We have to take on some of the responsibility ourselves.”

Smith agreed but added he didn’t want it to see it get to the point where all the businesses in town had to install rollup shutters on every entrance.

“Because that is what it is starting to look like for us [Pembina West Co-Op,” he said. “Is this going to be the new norm with rollup shutters and big cement pillars in front of every building?”

Coun. Leslie Penny asked if businesses are willing to put their money into things such as private security patrols why wouldn’t they be willing to contribute for these items through their taxes.

McKenzie said the cost is the biggest factor.

“You can put a couple of security guys on the road for the price of one mountie,” he said, adding the reason for the disparity is the complexity of providing the service. “[Security guards] have a specific duty, the RCMP have so many roles they have to fill.”