Total Criminal Code offences decreased by six per cent in the city according to the St. Albert RCMP's quarter three report.
The St. Albert RCMP released the third quarter progress report for 2021 on Jan. 27. The report covers the period between October and December of 2021 and looks at the data from three main priority areas, which include crime reduction; mental health and vulnerable communities; and domestic violence and assaults.
“Crime-reduction initiatives are on track, and it is expected targets will be met at the end of Q4,” said the report
There were 863 total Criminal Code occurrences in 2021 compared to 920 reported for the same period in 2020.
The report also noted the crime reduction unit concluded two complex investigations during the third quarter, “One involved a prolific offender targeting construction sites after hours. The other involved a series of mail thefts,” said the report.
Both files involved a number of judicial authorizations which led to 33 Criminal Code charges and the recovery of $25,000 in construction supplies as well as stolen mail and parcels (Canada Post).
In the community policing and victim services section, the report said during the third quarter police continued patrols in school zones. The unit also released monthly crime prevention tips, including the Lock it, Lose it campaign in December.
The third-quarter document said there was a slight decrease in confidential informant debriefings and sensitive expenditures due to human resource vacancies, but the department was still on pace to meet its 10-per-cent target.
In the second main priority area, the mental health and vulnerable communities’ section, the report said multiple stakeholder meetings had been held during the third quarter, including with the Housing Coalition Committee, African and African Descendants and Friendship Society (AADFC), Victim Services Unit, and the Youth Committee and School Resource Team.
The report said following meetings with the AADFC, recruiting will be hosting an information session during the fourth quarter to “share recruitment strategies which are targeting visible minority groups.”
The Botvin Life Skills Training pilot completed two classes, which is the first half of the program's sessions.
The reported noted schools appear to be lagging on adoption and training of violent threat risk assessment work. There are, however, ongoing patrols in schools and in-person school resource officer visits, said the report.
In the third quarter, a reservist was “activated” in community policing to deal with long-term vacancy, the report stated.
Mental Health Act calls were down by 20 per cent for the 2021 year, compared to 2020.
St. Albert RCMP received 127 calls in 2021 compared to 159 calls to police in 2020.
Spousal abuse calls were down by 13 per cent in 2021. Police received 157 calls compared to 180 for 2020.
The report said these are trending in the right direction and are in part a result of current initiatives and work plans.
“Community resiliency is also likely a contributing factor, as people are making the necessary adjustments to manage the stress associated to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the report.
Supplies for mental health tool kits are being procured and the kits will be assembled and handed out to front-line officers throughout the fourth quarter.
In the final priority area, domestic violence and assaults, the report said there had been significant progress throughout the third quarter with the St. Albert domestic and sexual violence community response committee. Meetings were held in October and January and will continue monthly.
The report said there have been ongoing joint meetings between the domestic violence unit and the committee “to discuss collaborative efforts on high-risk files and supportive efforts on victim care and support.”
Also in the third quarter, a municipal file reviewer joined the St. Albert RCMP detachment.
“This person had previously held a position as the [K Division domestic violence co-ordinator]. His experience and recent expertise with Clare’s Law as well as quality of investigations will be a great addition to the team,” the report said.
Of the 70 established police officer positions in the St. Albert RCMP detachment, 13 are on special leave. However, several of those positions have been back-filled for coverage. There are three hard vacancies in the detachment. The annual plan in St. Albert is based on 62 working officers, said the report.
Quarter three financial projections had been revised to include in-year pay raises for police officers. Total expenditures in the St. Albert RCMP budget were calculated at more than $12.4 million.
The document also said the division administration rate had also increased from the planned rate of $28,000 per working officer to a forecast of just over $32,000 per working officer.
“This increase is primarily due to a rise in the number of officers off on special leave as well as an increase in health-service costs,” the report said. “The increased cost is anticipated to be offset by potential reductions within the forecasts for training and equipment.”
