ATHABASCA – Property crimes in the Town of Athabasca are down by half in the first two months of 2021, compared to the same two months in 2020.
That is one of the highlights Athabasca RCMP Staff Sgt. Paul Gilligan gave to town councillors at their April 6 meeting, in what would be his final report to council before the 30-plus year RCMP veteran handed over his gun and badge and headed into retirement the next day.
“I don’t know how much of it is result of our good work or COVID itself but property crimes are down 50 per cent across the board; break and enters are down 68 per cent; theft of motor vehicles are down by 83 per cent. So those are really good numbers and are very positive,” Gilligan said.
But while property crimes are trending down, person crimes like assault are up. RCMP responded to 20 assault calls in January and February of this year, whereas there were 11 in 2020. Sexual assaults are up by one to four as well.
Uttering threats and criminal harassment files are down slightly though. There was also a single kidnapping/hostage/abduction case this year.
Other standouts in the statistics provided include a 67 per cent increase in calls to enforce the Mental Health Act — 25 this year, from 15 last year at this time. RCMP also dealt with five reports of drug trafficking in the first two months of the year. They have also executed four search warrants.
The report went on to show RCMP have responded to fewer false alarm calls (18 to five), but more 911 hang-ups (22 to 37). There have also been fewer calls regarding suspicious persons and vehicles so far this year (97 to 83), but two more missing persons reports (four to six).
Reports of spousal abuse are also up from eight to 16.
Gilligan was joined by Sgt. Colin Folk, who has been commanding officer at the Boyle detachment for several years, and will be taking over duties at the Athabasca detachment on an interim basis.
Even with Gilligan leaving, along with a senior constable who was recently hired by a police department in Ontario, staffing levels are on par. Of the 14 established positions at the detachment, 11 officers are working, one officer is on medical leave, one is on administrative suspension, but a vacant constable position was just filled by a new cadet last week.
Gilligan’s report also included comments on some of the community priorities for the RCMP, namely community engagement and reducing specific property crimes.
Gilligan said it has been difficult to have town hall meetings because of COVID, but residents were encouraged to e-mail the staff sergeant directly through advertising in the newspaper. Senior members, including Gilligan also had a booth at a recent farmers’ market at the Multiplex to give residents an opportunity to engage with the police.
A goal to reduce thefts and break-and-enters by seven per cent in the fiscal year and increase clearance rates on property crimes to 26 per cent from seven per cent. All thefts — vehicle, over $5,000 and under $5,000 — were down but the clearance rate, was up from seven to 17 per cent, but still short of the goal.
