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We're all in this together

Town of Barrhead mayor urges people to help the police by signing up for BARCC alerts
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Town of Barrhead mayor Dave McKenzie said Barrhead Area Crime Coalition has had a lot of interest from other municipalities in its automatic alert messaging system. Barry Kerton/BL
FORT ASSINIBOINE - How can residents help the police do their job?

One of the ways is by acting as an extra set of eyes.

That is what Barrhead RCMP Detachment commander Staff Sgt. Bob Dodds told an audience of about 80 people during a Feb. 26 rural crime town hall at the Fort Assiniboine Legion.

It was formed in the spring of 2018, in part due to discussions Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen had with all parties in around initiatives to combat rural crime.

As part of the initiative, BARCC has set up a software-based system that allows the municipalities, Rural Crime Watch and the RCMP to broadcast messages via automated phone calls, e-mails and texts, about items of public interest.

In September BARCC, received the 2019 Minister’s Awards for Municipal Excellence - Outstanding Achievement Award from Alberta Municipal Affairs.

Dodds said that when used correctly, the system is an effective tool for police, giving the example of a recent incident in Tiger Lily.

On Feb. 3, Barrhead RCMP received a report of a suspicious pick-up driving in and out of yards in the area.

Dodds went to investigate and did not find the truck, so he utilized the BARCC alert system, including a description of the truck along with a photo of the truck that a complainant sent to the RCMP.

Within 10 minutes, police were receiving tips from the public and one of them stated the truck was in Barrhead.

Unfortunately when RCMP arrived, the truck was gone, but through the information they received, they learned that that the vehicle was involved in two vehicle thefts and ATM heists in Whitecourt and Westlock.

“Because we got that suspicious vehicle report and the information from BARCC it gives us a chance to solve numerous crimes,” he said.

Town of Barrhead mayor Dave McKenzie, who sits on the BARCC board, said when Viersen initiated the Rural Crime Watch, based in Barrhead, he was looking for ways to improve, or upgrade its old telephone dialler fan-out system.

“It just wasn’t working and they knew they needed a better system to get the word out to their members and the public when they received a request from the police to activate their system,” he said.

After investigating several different software platforms BARCC selected a platform that would allow Rural Crime Watch, the RCMP as well as the three participating municipalities, to send out messages.

Residents can register online via the municipalities’ websites, or in person. People not only can choose how they want to receive the alerts, but the type as well. The choices range from crime and RCMP alerts, to events and programming information.

During a recent power outage admist an extreme cold snap in January, the County of Barrhead used the system to keep residents updated on electricity restoration efforts.

About 1,700 people have registered for the BARCC alerts, most in the Barrhead region.

“We have had amazing success with this system, what it does is allow the public to become the eyes for these guys [motioning to the RCMP],” McKenzie said.

He added by registering for alerts, residents become active participants in their community’s safety. However, people need to go one further by reporting suspicious incidents to the police, whether or not an alert was issued.

“They [police] will look into it and when they get more information that will help them bring something to a conclusion and catch a bad guy they will send it out through BARCC and now they have that many more sets of eyes.” McKenzie said. “We have become the envy of Alberta. Municipalities from all over are calling us asking us how to set this up.”

Besides the alerts, McKenzie noted BARCC is trying to inform the public on measures they can take to protect themselves by hosting a crime prevention tradeshow in Barrhead May 9.

“Vendors and organizations from all over will be there to show you how to protect yourselves and your property,” he said.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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