The Integrated Crime Reduction Unit (ICRU) pilot project is proving to have an impact and it’s a model the Alberta government is expanding upon in its fight against the rising level of rural crime.

In its supplementary budget preceding the 2018 budget, the province allocated $8 million to hire 39 new officers, 40 civilian staff and $2 million to hire additional Crown prosecutors.

Measures introduced are aimed at allowing police officials to focus on gathering intelligence and sharing information to help identify and catch prolific offenders while shifting some routine tasks to civilian workers so officers can spend more time patrolling and investigating in the community.

Banff-Cochrane MLA Cam Westhead says the Red Deer area pilot has proven shared intelligence goes a long way in the fight against rural crime.

“The strategic goal is better intelligence,” says Westhead. “The central Alberta pilot uses ALERT to work with local detachments to gather data, track and help prevent crimes from happening in first place.”

It also brings into sync nontraditional crime enforcement agencies, like Fish and Wildlife, Alberta Sheriffs, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and conservation officers.

“When more police forces talk to each other and can share that intelligence it goes a long way towards preventing crime.”

The RCMP will determine where exactly those additional resources will be deployed, says Westhead.

Since established in mid-October 2017 and making its first arrest on Oct. 23, ICRU is proving to have an impact, according to the RCMP.

In a recent press release, RCMP state CRU has recovered almost $500,000 in stolen property, including 18 stolen vehicles. More than 20 guns/ weapons have been seized. The team has made a total of 59 arrests of prolific offenders and their criminal associates.

These arrests resulted in excess of 500 charges laid by either the CRU team or by other jurisdictions as a result of the assistance of the CRU team. The CRU has executed over 50 outstanding warrants with the arrests of these offenders.

"The Integrated Crime Reduction Unit Project has shown, in a short period of time, that a targeted, intelligence-led approach to policing works,” states Deputy Commissioner Todd Shean, Commanding Officer, Alberta RCMP.

“With the support of the province, the RCMP will continue to keep Albertans safe by working with policing and community partners to find and arrest the people that hurt our communities the most."

A big part of that is collaborating with the community and the RCMP continue to urge people to report suspicious people or activities.

Several town hall meetings have involved United Conservative Party (UCP) representatives, yet the party stood unanimously opposed to providing funding when it came to the floor of the Alberta Legislature in mid-March.

Westhead says he was surprised by the UCP’s position.

“We've heard loud and clear from rural Albertans that they are experiencing some higher crime rates and they wanted to see some action. When the rubber hit the road in terms of actually putting the resources into that program the UCP voted against funding for RCMP officers. We're showing our commitment to work to address the rural crime problem and the UCP seems to be all talk and no action.”

Action cannot come soon enough, David Schneider UCP Little Bow MLA, said in the legislature, Mar. 14.

“Very little action has been taken by the government save one: the government rejected our request for an emergency debate on the matter last fall,” said Schneider. “Months later the government released news about additional funding for RCMP, support staff, and more prosecutors to possibly help alleviate some of the backlogs in response times and court delays. It’s a good first step, but these measures will take time, time to hire and train these people and get these resources where they are needed the most.”

Rising in the legislature a day later, UCP leader Jason Kenney said municipalities had been waiting upwards to two years for funded positions be filled by the RCMP. He also blasted the government for not standing up to Ottawa and insisting on tougher crime laws to stop the revolving door of serious offenders returning to the streets.

Premier Rachel Notley rose to mock Kenney for appearing to be campaigning for Prime Minister, not premier.

“What I will say is that we are focused on doing the job here in Alberta. It’s not easy when the members opposite actually vote down supplementary estimates for Justice, which were geared towards paying the salaries of more RCMP officers, a mere hour and a half ago.”

During a packed town hall meeting on rural crime in Airdrie the same day the Alberta government OKed additional rural crime funding, local MP Blake Richards said change needs to start at the federal level.

"I think the biggest problem is at the federal level... the justice system. Yes, there is a bit of a component of the provincial as well but at the end of the day, it’s largely a federal responsibility. Now is it the criminal code itself or is it the way the justice system is enforcing and using the laws we have. It seems most people that came out felt it was actually just the way the system is enforcing the laws we have now and so we need to look at that and figure what we need to do to fix this."

Those with any information regarding any criminal or suspicious activity are encouraged to contact the Cochrane detachment at 403-851-8000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.