Bonnyville S/Sgt describes “catch and release” as frustrating in community engagement feedback

Stolen vehicles, higher insurance, and dangerous intersections also touched on. 

It’s no secret that the release of repeat offenders seemingly to continue to commit crimes is frustrating, but equally frustrating to the Bonnyville RCMP, says S/Sgt Sarah Parke in a recent online engagement.

In January, a call out to residents to ask questions about policing concerns to the Detachment Commander was released by local media, and one of the questions points to homelessness and repeat offenders who seem to continue the same crimes, but are rarely remanded.

“The release of habitual offenders into the community who then re-offend within weeks, days or even hours of their release is as equally frustrating for the RCMP who worked hard to catch and charge them in the first place as it is for the community,” she says. 

“While the RCMP use preventative tactics for various offences committed, the fact that some of these individuals have addiction and/or mental health issues is out of the control of the RCMP. Addictions, mental health issues and homelessness are all part of a larger societal concern that need to be addressed by community supports with the assistance of legislation.” 

Full response:

The results are in from the 2024 Bonnyville RCMP Community Engagement initiative which was open to all residents from town of Bonnyville, MD of Bonnyville, Village of Glendon, Fort Kent, La Corey, Iron River, Therien and Kehewin Cree Nation. 

This initiative was open to submissions from community members and was developed to provide a forum where residents could bring forth any of their policing concerns to the Detachment Commander and have their concerns published along with the corresponding responses and/or action plans to address the issues, if applicable.

Several responses were received from community members, many of which were individual concerns stemming from a personal interaction with the Justice System, a crime or the RCMP.

As a result, some of the responses can not be published. I have compiled as many responses as possible and will attempt to address them in general terms.

Concern #1:

Request for additional patrols at the intersection on Highway 28 at Fort Kent. It’s felt that when traffic is turning North into Forth Kent or South onto Highway 657 other motorists sometimes use the turn lanes as pass lanes, thus making it a dangerous intersection.

Answer #1:

I can say I’ve noticed the same thing in my travels to Cold Lake with my family while off duty and wish motorists would comply with the arrows painted in the lanes. This is not the first time this topic has been brought up and unfortunately likely won’t be the last as some motorists simply fail to exercise the necessary patience to travel through these types of intersections in a safe manner.

A motorist who ops [sic] to use the turning lane as a passing lane runs the risk of causing a t-bone collision which can be especially dangerous and even fatal. Anyone witnessing a traffic infraction at this intersection is encouraged to note the licence plate of the offending vehicle (if possible) and call us (780-826-3358) as soon as it’s safe to make the call.

Concern #2:

One concerned community member indicates there is an “un-housed population that has seemingly taken over our community, most of whom suffer from some type of addiction and/or mental health issues.”

This community member has witnesses one such individual committing crimes and worries the violence is getting worse and indicated: “I thought to call the police, but was worried that it would take too long … So I called my (spouse) instead …How is it ok that people who are known to have extreme violent attacks, are able to walk free in the streets, knowing how aggressively violent they are?”

Answer #2:

There are a few things to address from this submission. While it’s from just one community member, the ‘catch and release’ theme of it has been a big part of discussions between RCMP and community members for years.

When RCMP are dispatched to deal with a prolific offender, after the arrest is made and the charges drafted up, the next part of that process includes a bail hearing whereby the RCMP prepare a bail package and lay out a criteria for why that individual should be remanded in custody until their court appearance.

From that point on the decision lies with a Justice of the Peace, not the RCMP, as to whether that charged individual will be held in custody or released out into the community. The release of habitual offenders into the community who then re-offend within weeks, days or even hours of their release is as equally frustrating for the RCMP who worked hard to catch and charge them in the first place as it is for the community.

While the RCMP use preventative tactics for various offences committed, the fact that some of these individuals have addiction and/or mental health issues is out of the control of the RCMP. Addictions, mental health issues and homelessness are all part of a larger societal concern that need to be addressed by community supports with the assistance of legislation.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance to call the RCMP when you see a crime being committed. The response times of the Bonnyville RCMP are quite quick comparatively speaking to the rest of the Province.

But if the RCMP aren’t made aware of a dangerous incident we can’t take the first steps in addressing it and making the situation safe. Calling family members to insert themselves into a potentially violent situation is very dangerous never recommended.

Concern #3:

The theft of motor vehicles in the Lakeland.

Answer #3:

In 2023, 192 vehicles were reported stolen to the Bonnyville RCMP. While the RCMP are proactive in many aspects of their work, the vast majority of crime investigation is reactive work that takes place after the crime has been committed.

This fact is what makes prevention (when possible) so important. Yes, many of those 192 vehicles in 2023 were locked and did not have the keys left inside, but a high percentage of them WERE [sic] left unlocked and/or DID have the keys left inside and/or WERE left running unattended.

As such, many of these 192 thefts could have been prevented by the owner.

One of programs the Bonnyville RCMP participated in recently was Operation Cold Start where Members of the Bonnyville Detachment were very active in reaching out to motorists during the week-long project at -30 temperatures and made contact with numerous people, most ofwhom were appreciative of the contact.

Motorists who did not have command start or a second set of keys etc are the most vulnerable to having their vehicle stolen when idling and they were provided a steering wheel “Club” free of charge, compliments of the RCMP. (I have 3 steering wheel “Clubs” leftover from this initiative that are available to the first three individuals that attend the Bonnyville Detachment that could use one.)

Another tactic recently utilized by the Bonnyville RCMP was use of an RCMP bait vehicle. In a six week period the RCMP bait vehicle was stolen twice by two different offenders known to RCMP for property crime offences including vehicle theft. They were charged accordingly and their matters are currently before the courts.

Concern #4:

The rise in car insurance rates as a result of vehicle thefts. One community member writes: “I believe that your influence and advocacy can play a crucial role in finding solutions for the crime rates we are experiencing. Whether through community safety measures, enhanced law enforcement efforts, or collaboration with insurance providers… Our community deserves to be a safe and affordable place to live, and the current situation is falling short of these expectations.”

Answer #4:

I am sorry to hear some families may be finding the Bonnyville area unsafe and/or too expensive. As I’m sure all Albertans can appreciate the RCMP have no power or control over vehicle insurance rates and there is no appropriate scenario where RCMP would collaborate with insurance companies with a view to guiding them in setting their rates.

The Bonnyville RCMP are doing what we can from our end and exploring different crime reduction tactics such as the ones described above, but ultimately, the easiest way to reduce vehicle theft, which directly correlates with insurance rates, is to lower the number of vehicles being stolen from the Lakeland area and the power to do that rests with the community members that whether it be regularly or just from time to time leave their keys in their vehicle, leave their vehicle unlocked or leave it running unattended.

As for “enhanced law enforcement efforts” I would love nothing more than to have a Detachment size twice that of the current Bonnyville Detachment compliment so we could double up our proactive patrols and double up on our back up when responding to violent situations.

The number of RCMP members that make up the Bonnyville Detachment however are determined by the Province and our Municipality. The Bonnyville RCMP do however lean on their partners at neighbouring Detachments and assistance units such as Crime Reduction Units, General Investigations Sections, Major Crimes Units and Police Dog Services to name a few. When a dangerous situation presents itself to RCMP, be assured it’s an ‘all hands on deck’ response until the matter can be resolved.

I would like to thank everyone who participated in this electronic community engagement.