RCMP share Cold Lake’s crime stats in 2019, addictions highlighted in rural crime town hall

Cold Lake RCMP Sgt. Ryan Howrish discusses the latest crime numbers in the city on Wednesday night. 

Around 100 Cold Lake and area residents heard from RCMP members, Mayor Craig Copeland, Reeve of the M.D. of Bonnyville Greg Sawchuk, Corporal Marie-Eve Mackenzie Plante and Sgt. Ryan Howrish on crime in the city at the rural crime town hall at the Lakeland Inn.

Residents asked questions, shared their crime stories, and asked for additional safety measures in the city.

Mayor Craig Copeland was pleased with the large turnout and said combating crime is the city’s top priority.

“We’re very interested in dealing with this whole crime issue and how we want to work with the RCMP. They’re the professionals. What are the best options?” he said.

“From having security on the lampposts, improving the lighting in the downtown core, whether it’s bylaw officers or a security firm that goes and sort of observes any action, of course they don’t have the power to arrest people or hire more RCMP officers.

“We’re going to look at all this as a council. This is the number one issue in our community for sure.”

Sgt. Howrish said total calls for service were up by almost in 2019 with 9654 than in 2018 with 8689.

They saw a 25 per cent increase in person crime, 74 per cent increase in property crimes and 55 per cent increase in criminal code offences.

Break and enters were up 41 per cent (44 total) and theft under $5000 is up 51 per cent.

Marie-Eve Mackenzie-Plante of the Cold Lake RCMP GIS unit also presented about the violent crimes their team investigates like armed robberies, sexual assaults and drug busts.

In recent years, they’ve looked to combat the drug trade around Cold Lake and area which has some to some good police work, she said.

She has seen a strong link between those doing the crimes and crystal meth.

“Essentially what we’ve been finding is a lot of the people that area actually addicted are the ones committing these very violent crimes,” said Mackenzie-Plante.

“As a whole, we try to target these individuals that are committing persons crime such as home invasions, armed robberies. We’ve seen in the seizures that we’ve done is these individuals have firearms and are involved in the illicit world. And also they are oftentimes users.

“What we’ve observed is crystal meth is essentially one of the drugs that have stemmed a lot of violence in the community and a lot of the property crime. So it’s dealing with those individuals that are actually addicted to crystal meth that will lead to more of a successful dealing with property crime and serious issues.”

An audience member asked the dignitaries and police if they’ve considered having a social worker with the RCMP to help deal with these addiction-related issues.

That intrigued Mackenzie-Plante.

“That was quite innovative. I’ve never actually heard of a social worker being attached to us. We do work with social workers when we deal with children and that sort of aspect. I definitely look forward to following up with that initiative and if that’s something that could complement the team.

“I definitely think that crime is a community issue. There are many different puzzle pieces that need to come together in order for us to address it. It’s not a sole issue. It’s not really a policing issue. We respond to calls. We arrest people who commit violent offences and offences, but it’s truly a community that needs to come together in order for crime to be reduced.”