The County of Wetaskiwin is grateful for the significant investment the Province of Alberta is making in the Wetaskiwin region. The Province has committed 10 new RCMP officers to the Wetaskiwin RCMP Detachment to address high crime rates in the City and surrounding rural areas, including the County of Wetaskiwin. The City of Wetaskiwin and County of Wetaskiwin have long advocated for increased supports for our region.
“I would like to thank Minister Madu, Minister Wilson, the City of Wetaskiwin, my colleagues at the County, and all the residents of the Wetaskiwin Region for their advocacy regarding the challenges our region faces,” stated Reeve Josh Bishop. “I would also like to thank the Province of Alberta for making such a significant investment in safety for our region. These additional boots on the ground will help reduce crime and give residents increased security in their community.”
In the press release from the Government of Alberta, the Government stated “the RCMP will establish a six-member regional crime reduction unit targeting high-risk and repeat offenders and add four officers to the City of Wetaskiwin’s municipal policing contingent at an estimated cost of $5.1 million to the provincial government.
Crime reduction units created by the RCMP in other areas of Alberta since 2018 have been effective in identifying and catching prolific offenders who are often mobile and commit crimes in multiple communities. A crime reduction unit based in Wetaskiwin will operate in the city and surrounding rural areas and be capable of sharing intelligence and coordinating investigations with RCMP teams in neighbouring jurisdictions.
The new unit will be funded under the provincial police service agreement, which splits the costs of policing in small and rural communities between the provincial government and the federal government. The provincial government’s 70 per cent contribution will be an estimated $1 million a year, with the federal government contributing the remaining 30 per cent from Public Safety Canada.”
The complete Press Release from the Government of Alberta can be viewed here.
The complete County News Release can be viewed here.