A request has been made that would see more RCMP officers on the streets of Drumheller.
At the November 19 meeting of Town Council, Drumheller RCMP Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins requested councillors consider hiring additional RCMP officers and suggested joint funding with surrounding communities.
He also made the same plea to Starland County Council at their meeting on Tuesday, December 11.
“I’m always looking for more police officers. To provide a service to the public, the more officers, the better,” said Staff Sergeant Hopkins.
There are two areas more officers would be needed. The first is to make up for a staffing shortfall.
The Drumheller RCMP detachment currently has 11 members, but due to maternity leaves and other causes the detachment has been running with nine members. The hope is to run consistently with at least 11 members.
The second need is for a community liaison officer, who could do more preventive policing.
“It would be more involved in giving presentations to the schools or community for various types of crime or interests,” said Staff Sergeant Hopkins.
It is hoped such an officer could visit schools and other community organizations in the area to give presentations.
“There are a lot of things that can be done in the schools, but it’s not just restricted to them. There are presentations we’ve done with seniors about frauds or senior abuse. There are presentations we can make to various groups in the community,” said Staff Sergeant Hopkins.
“We’ve got schools out in Delia, Morrin, and more where a police officer could show up there. There’s D.A.R.E., Duke of Edinburgh, and cyberbullying out there too. There are so many things being levied on us, which takes time away from other things.”
Curtis LaPierre, principal of Drumheller Valley Secondary School, would welcome a greater RCMP presence at the school.
“We have a really close working relationship with the RCMP in town. We’ve had them in quite often...and we’re more than happy to have them in the building,” said LaPierre.
The decision to hire any additional officers rests upon Town Council. It is hoped a decision can be reached soon.
“Right now, we’re trying to catch-up and we’re not doing any preventative policing,” said Staff Sergeant Hopkins.
