BOYLE - The Boyle RCMP Detachment is reaching out to residents as members plan out their regional priorities and how much emphasis they put on different kinds of crime going forward.
This week (June 30-July 3), residents in the Village of Boyle, Athabasca County and Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement are asked to contact Cpl. Colin Folk via email at [email protected] with any suggestions they may have about future direction of the local RCMP.
Emergency calls and other calls for service should still be directed to 911 or to the detachment’s non-emergency line at 780-689-3622.
This kind of outreach would usually be done in a town hall setting, but due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent gathering restrictions, they decided to try receive the input through email this year, said Cpl. Folk.
“We weren’t able to do that, but we still want feedback from the community,” he said.
“This year, the K Division Strategic Priority Plan is to reduce property crimes, so we have some plans in place to try to decrease property crimes, and this year as a detachment we’ve chosen to focus on some traffic enforcement as well.”
Folk said he doesn’t necessarily expect any big surprises, but all the feedback will be taken into account and feasible ideas will be implemented where possible.
“I think it’s safe to say that the majority of the feedback we’re going to get is in relation to the property crimes, and traffic enforcement,” he said. “It’s nice to have community feedback, just so we know our objectives and our goals are aligned with the community and that’s why we’re opening this up.”
The detachment’s annual performance plan, prepared with the municipalities’ input, also includes community engagement. Being visible and approachable at community events, working with the schools and students and red serge duties, are all a part of that.
“I think with the way things are going, it’s super-beneficial for us to be seen in a positive light in the community, because I think a lot of the good work that we do in the community gets overshadowed by some of the negative stuff in the media,” said Folk.
