Crime down by 30-plus per cent in Westlock

WESTLOCK – Compared to 2019, Criminal Code offences in the Town of Westlock were down 31 per cent in 2020 with double-digit offence categories like thefts under $5,000, failure to comply/breaches and mischief lower by 22 to 45 per cent.

Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt. Al Baird delivered the year-end and December crime stats to town councillors at their regular Jan. 25 meeting, stating that over the past 12 months the total Criminal Code case load dropped by 375 files for a total of 843 — the year-end stats are closer to 2018, when there were 697 cases while in 2019 there were 1,218.

Meanwhile, person crimes are down by three per cent (five files), while property crimes were down a whopping 228 files, or 31 per cent and total federal files cases, like drug offences, dropped to 31 from 36 in 2019. Other provincial cases under the liquor, cannabis and mental health acts rose to 331 versus 216 the year past and municipal files jumped by two to 23.

The drop in crime dovetails with the RCMP’s annual performance plan, which was to reduce break and enters, thefts under $5,000 and thefts of motor vehicles by seven per cent.

“At first blush looking at these numbers we’ve met that goal,” said Baird, who’s still waiting on the official stats from ‘K’ Division. “But I’m pretty confident we’ve met it.”

The performance plan also set a clearance rate goal of 26 per cent for property crimes, which Baird said they haven’t hit — from October to December the clearance rate on those offences was 11.6 per cent. Overall their clearance rate for all Criminal Code matters stands at 38.1 per cent.

“That’s a really high number to get to for property offences, but we’ll still try to meet it,” said Baird in a follow-up interview Jan. 28. “We’re over the 26 per cent on all Criminal Code, but the property clearance rate certainly has room for improvement. But I’m waiting for the official comparison numbers to come out as right now I only have the 2020 numbers.”

Motor vehicle collision files dropped by 32 per cent (95 versus 140), while provincial traffic offences dropped to 197 versus 301 (35 per cent) and Criminal Code traffic also fell to 19 (37 per cent), compared to 30 in 2019 and other traffic offences dropped by four to two in 2020.

Spousal abuse calls were also down in 2020, with 43 reported in 2020 compared to 50 the previous year. Baird said the numbers were trending lower until a spike in December.

“In December in 2019 we had one reported incident and this year we had six, but overall we were down six.”

Another number Baird highlighted was the reporting of suspicious persons/vehicles, which ended the year up by 27 per cent, with 344 calls versus 270 in 2019 and only 148 in 2018.

“That’s good as well,” said Baird.

Mayor Ralph Leriger congratulated the detachment on their work in 2020, stating they know the RCMP have a hard job especially when they end up dealing with repeat offenders, who Baird noted commit the vast number of crimes locally.

“There’s been lot of talk of a provincial police force and there was the whole de-fund the police movement, but I want to say that on behalf of myself and our council and I believe I speak for the community as well, that we truly appreciate what you and your members are doing for the community,” said Leriger.

“It would appear to me that based on a simple look at the stats that the issue of crime in our community, lie a great deal with problems in the system … the court system and not in the policing. You’re doing the catching, it’s the keeping that’s the issue. When the same people can repeatedly victimize our community, some of them over several decades, then the problem isn’t the police force, it’s the system.

“We know that these are very difficult times for everyone — for governing, town employees, business owners in COVID times and it certainly is for your force as well.”

Baird was gracious accepting the praise as more often than not police don’t receive pats on the back. The detachment has 12 regular members (not including one surplus officer), which includes nine constables, two corporals and Baird.

“I know that the members will appreciate it as well as we usually deal with negativity. We’ve enjoyed good support from the community — businesses and individuals,” said Baird. “We appreciate the support as it makes members feel that they are making a difference.”

George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com