The provincial government announced last week it will spend $4.3 million to provide tow plainclothes squads of Alberta sheriffs to conduct surveillance in rural areas supporting local RCMP in battling rural crime.
Making the announcement in Carstairs, July 18, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis said, “Criminals and organized crime are not welcome in Alberta. Full stop.
“The addition of two new surveillance teams will further support our law enforcement partners in stamping out criminal activity in Alberta’s rural areas.
The two eight man team will be stationed with one in Calgary and a second unit in Edmonton.
When asked if the teams will patrol rural areas in smaller teams, Ministerial staff wouldn’t answer directly.
“This is about supporting local investigations to address local crime in our smaller communities.
“Together, both teams will form another key component of Alberta’s efforts to combat crime and ensure Albertans feel safe at home and in their communities, regardless of where they live,” said Arthur Green, press secretary for the Minister.
“Details on deployment, including staffing, resources, and length of time, are determined on a case-by-case basis in close collaboration with the police agency of jurisdiction.”
The teams will be made up of one staff sergeant and seven sheriff members.
Both teams are now fully staffed and operational, ready to fight crime in rural areas across Alberta.
RCMP detachments and local police services identifying problem areas can put in a request to the teams, which are then assigned on a case-by-case basis.
Alberta Sheriff Superintendent Mike Letourneau noted that as the teams get more engaged and the request queue gets longer, the priority will shift focus to surveilling repeat offenders and, hopefully, begin catching them in the act of committing crime.
John Mather
Staff Reporter
