Westlock RCMP will be prioritizing traffic safety on local highways, said S/Sgt. Jeff Sehn during his quarterly report at the June 24 Westlock County council meeting.
From January to March 2025, overall crime statistics saw a slight decline compared to previous years. Assaults declined by 51 per cent compared to the same period last year with break and enter cases being halved as well. Sexual assaults stayed steady with four being reported in the fourth quarter of 2024.
However, thefts under $5000 saw 43 per cent more reports since 2024 and thefts over $5000 increased from one case to three. The RCMP reported double the amount of drug enforcement trafficking cases.
This includes the four people they discovered and arrested in connection with cocaine trafficking in the area. Sehn provided a brief update on their cases, saying that 20 Controlled Drugs and Substance Act and Criminal Code charges were made against four of them, including 15 for trafficking controlled drugs and substances.
Sehn also detailed that they will be going after an individual's truck which is worth over $100,000 in relation to the case as well as the individual's house. They have all been released on bail and are awaiting their trial dates.
A new priority plan was briefly outlined for the Westlock RCMP detachment that includes more informal community engagement. Every third Thursday of the month at the Westlock Library, the RCMP host a Coffee with a Cop, where community members can chat, ask questions and give tips. A useful part of their information and connectivity that led to the cocaine trafficking investigation. This will continue along with their weekly letters to crime prevention groups, media releases, town hall meetings and talks with the public. They will be making a conscious effort to drop by community events for more connectivity, Sehn added.
The RCMP will continue to be proactive when it comes to their policing efforts and committed to providing mental health/substance abuse assistance. During his presentation, Sehn talked about only scratching the surface of handling mental health cases.
“We’re going to continue that [their strategy] and keep trying to get the people who need help help”
A new priority officers want to focus on this year is more traffic safety and enforcement along the highways between Westlock and Slave Lake as brought to their attention by community members.
They have begun creating a traffic safety group from eight different enforcement agencies including the Westlock Peace Officers to monitor Highway 44 and the adjacent highways that run through the town.
Sehn has drafted a traffic safety initiative for Westlock County that has already been approved by the district. The group will conduct proactive patrols along the roadways and work to do more enforcement.
This upcoming year, the Westlock RCMP will see some changes in the way they enforce traffic policies but residents can be assured they will see them around town and at more events, Sehn said.
