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Crime in region decreasing: Sgt

Reduction attributed to policing priorities
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By Kevin Sabo For the Advance

Crime in this region is decreasing, the town council learned at the regular council meeting on May 28.

RCMP Sgt. Darcy McGunigal reported the information as he presented to council year-to-date statistics ahead of his imminent departure at the end of June. He informed the council that to date, there has been a decrease in property crimes and thefts.

These drops are due to the change in policing priorities over the last several years, with the focus on 2018 priorities being: Traffic safety, crime reduction and employee wellness.

“We want to see officers on the road,” he said of the employee wellness priority, which is aimed at keeping moral up, and RCMP members on the job.

As part of his presentation to council Sgt. McGunigal also indicated that the process of finding his replacement has already begun, although no timelines have been given yet. An interim detachment commander will be selected from the current Coronation members until a new commander is decided, and the town will be kept up to date.

Coun. Ryan asked Sgt. McGunigal about the impending cannabis legalization, with Sgt. McGunigal replying that as of now, they are currently enforcing the existing laws, and that there are too many variables as to how and when the legislation will be brought in to be able to comment further.

The issue of response times was also raised by council, and it was asked if the detachment has standards to meet. The response was no, due to the large response area that the Coronation detachment has.

Sgt. McGunigal did indicate that every case file does cross his desk for review, and response times are evaluated as part of the review.