The Officer in Charge of Coronations RCMP detachment, Sgt. John Pike, was in Castor council on Aug.14, presenting the latest quarter’s crime statistics.
According to Pike, the officers under him are on the road more and conducting more regional patrols which has resulted in more traffic tickets issued, but lower crime overall.
“The stats have been really good, actually,” said Pike.
Pike noted that on the roads and highways of the region, his officers had stopped 295 vehicles in between April and June, with 138 tickets issued and 174 warnings. During the same period in 2022, 240 vehicles were stopped with 137 tickets issued along with 99 warnings.
In Castor alone, from Jan. 1 through to Aug. 14 the RCMP has issued 131 tickets.
“That’s a lot,” said Pike.
As far as crime in the region, Pike noted that the detachment currently had 38 open files with 33 of them under active investigation. The case clearance rate has increased from around 40 per cent to 75 per cent.
Cases can be cleared in a number of ways including through the laying of charges.
” A lot of the stats have been down quite a bit,” said Pike.
Compared to the same time period in 2022, the detachment was investigating 66 files.
One area of property crime that has seen a recent increase, according to Pike, is copper wire theft.
“I sure like to see you guys driving around town,” said Coun. Don Sisson, a sentiment echoed by many of his colleagues.
“Thanks for doing what you do,” said Mayor Richard Elhard.
Pike noted that one thing the public can do to help officers is reporting crimes. Crime can be reported in a variety of ways, including through the RCMP’s new mobile app. According to Pike, in a lot of cases, officers know who is doing the crimes in the region; however, it is a matter of finding the evidence and allowing charges to be laid.
“People come forward, but they are not wanting to go on the record,” said Pike.
According to Pike, there are really only three paths to charges being laid; evidence, someone going on the record and willing to stand up in court, or catching the offenders in the act.
To report a crime in the Paintearth County area, the detachment can be reached at its 24-hour complaint line at 403-578-3622 or via the app for non-emergency issues, or 911 in an emergency.
For those wishing to remain anonymous, contact Alberta Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.p3tips.com, or via the P3 Tips app available on Apple and Android mobile devices.
After Pike departed, council accepted his report as information.
