RCMP Respond to Shots Fired in Fishing Lake

No reported deaths at this time.

On June 7th, at approximately 4:30 pm members of the Elk Point RCMP Detachment were dispatched to Fishing Lake, responding to a call of shots fired. According to RCMP media spokesperson, Corporal Ronald Bumbry there are “no reported deaths and the investigation is ongoing.”

Council Chair for Fishing Lake Metis Settlement, Terry Parenteau, confirmed there was an incident, but could not go into detail as the Settlemt cooperates with the ongoing investigation. “We take violence and crime very seriously. We put money behind dedicated police services for the community though agreements with the province of Alberta and RCMP; as well as, we have dug deeper and utilized Lakeland Security Services.”

Parenteau confirms the private security firm, Lakeland Security will continue to patrol the area, until further notice, “crime is on the rise in every community it seems is it but in a small community such as ours it tends to be amplified.” Fishing Lake suffered the loss of a 16 year old to gun violence only a few weeks prior to this incident and leaders felt the private firm would add to the safety measures Council is already taking on.

“Many people ask us to ban people out; but it doesn’t solve the issue. It merely pushes problems to surrounding areas and communities and the presence will still continue regardless if they are living in the community or not,” Parenteau explains the leadership is working to solve the root of the problem. “We like many other communities are frustrated in dealing with rising crime.”

“I am raising my young daughter with my fiancé & We are proud to call Fishing Lake Metis Settlement our home and will continue to call it home because it’s just as safe or dangerous as the next rural community.”

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact the Elk Point RCMP Detachment 780-724-3964 or Crimestoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).