ATHABASCA/BOYLE — Commanders from both the Athabasca and Boyle RCMP detachments met with Athabasca County council, informing them crime stats in both areas are trending downward.
At the Jan. 31 meeting, Athabasca Staff Sgt. Mark Hall and Boyle Sgt. Colin Folk gave councillors a glimpse of some of what they've been focusing on during the previous year, their focus for, and what they hope to achieve in the coming year, and the stats to back it up.
“This past year Athabasca’s priorities were drug issues and we had a full, well-rounded approach to it with education and being in the schools as much as we possibly could given our current circumstances,” Hall who transferred to Athabasca from McLennan in September.
Folk concurred and said another priority for the Boyle detachment is off-highway vehicles and focusing on the Grassland area, which is where most of the complaints come from during the summer camping season.
“I think it’s fair to say we’ve heard the off-highway vehicle issue has been a concern that’s come up at the table regularly and it’s nice to know you’re having success and that it’s still on the radar for next year,” said reeve Brian Hall.
Staff Sgt. Hall added several search warrants were also executed i the previous year to try to get drugs off our local streets.
“The next area we were focusing on is community engagement,” he said.
He said he will be looking at a series of virtual town hall meetings to engage with the public as well as increase their visibility in the area.
In a year-over-year comparison of 2020 and 2021, the Athabasca detachment saw a drop in person crimes, like assaults, of five percent, along with a 23 per cent reduction in property crimes and a 27 per cent drop in other Criminal Code violations. There was also a 41 per cent drop in break and enters; a 17 per cent reduction in motor vehicle thefts; and a 23 per cent decrease in theft under $5,000 for an average of a 21 per cent total reduction in crime.
“Same thing, we’re trending down year-to-year,” Folk said.
Overall Boyle has seen a 14 per cent reduction in crime with six per cent fewer person crimes; 28 per cent less property crimes; 40 per cent fewer break and enters; 58 per cent less vehicle thefts; and a 31 per cent reduction in theft under $5,000 but has seen a five per cent increase in other Criminal Code crimes.
The RCMP crime map is also a good way for residents to stay informed and to track what is going on in the area.
Coun. Rob Minns expressed concern for the number of speeders around Baptiste Lake and council agreed they would like the see the RCMP focus on off-highway vehicles, speeding, and an anti-drug campaign in the schools.
“I know you have a difficult job,” said reeve Hall. “I can't imagine having to do what you do and appreciate that you send those guys out and that you're here to talk to us about it.”
