The recent relaunch of the BC RCMP Auxiliary Program, highlights from the 2024 Cranbrook RCMP first quarter report, and an update on business engagement meetings with the local business community highlighted a presentation to City of Cranbrook council by the Cranbrook RCMP Detachment Monday night (April 22).

Detachment commander S/Sgt. Barry Graham presented these initiatives Monday, which are important steps forward in priorities around both community policing and public safety in the detachment’s 2024 work plan, which was previously shared with council in February 2024.

The BC RCMP Auxiliary Program strengthens community and police partnerships by providing highly trained volunteers with peace officer status the opportunity to perform a variety of activities that enhance community policing and crime prevention initiatives. Auxiliary Program volunteers (once trained), alongside Cranbrook RCMP members, will help to provide greater community visibility and support crime reduction education and initiatives specific to our community needs.

Last week, the Cranbrook detachment and city bylaw staff met with representatives from the business community in the first Business Engagement Meeting. The Business Engagement Meetings will take place regularly to encourage open dialogue across the business community with the RCMP and help identify issues and develop effective responses to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder and fear of crime.

“Increased visibility in the community through proactive patrols, community events and joint patrols with bylaw (enforcement), as well as delivering crime reduction and prevention initiatives through our community policing section is one of our top priorities in 2024,” said S/Sgt. Graham.

“The feedback we receive through the Business Engagement Meetings as well as the assistance of our future Auxiliary Program volunteers are the first of many steps in achieving this priority.

“The more eyes and ears we have engaged in the city, the more effective our policing becomes,” said Mayor Wayne Price. “I believe that the community is starting to understand that we all have a role to play in our community’s safety and well-being.”

Both council and Cranbrook RCMP Detachment recognize the increasing public safety challenges that communities like Cranbrook face and are committed to continue working together to identify and understand these challenges, while moving forward on a positive plan to address these issues.

Meantime, S/Sgt. Graham also presented 2024 first quarter statistics to council Monday night.

Local members responded to 2,099 calls for service from January to March, completed 30 joint patrols with city bylaw staff and submitted 54 reports to Crown Counsel recommending charges.

Twenty-five reports of break and enters to commercial properties were received, up 17 from the fourth quarter of 2023. In February, Cranbrook RCMP responded to two calls of break and enters in progress at commercial properties on the same night. Members responded immediately and arrested suspects at both locations.

S/Sgt. Graham also reported that members conducted 27 proactive patrols to hot spot locations identified through crime trends and reports to police, along with 22 curfew checks and 16 bar-walk patrols in the downtown this quarter.

e-KNOW file photos

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