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Red Deer sees success in collaborative community policing

April 26, 2021 5:25 PM
(Red Deer, Alberta)

In collaboration with Red Deer RCMP and other community partners, The City is seeing success just a few months after implementing its new Social Diversion Team.

The Social Diversion team was introduced in January 2021 with a goal to provide an integrated community response to non-emergency crisis situations, while reducing law enforcement and emergency response, including a reduction in calls to 9-1-1. The team consists of specially-trained professionals that provide front line assessment, intervention and support, and connect people in crisis with the social services they need.

“We are very proud of the early success that is evident as a result of the efforts of the new Social Diversion Team,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “Our trained professionals are connecting vulnerable individuals with necessary social services while also playing an important role in reducing strain on police and emergency response in our community.”

In a presentation to Council, Red Deer RCMP Superintendent Gerald Grobmeier noted more than 125 calls were diverted to the City’s social diversion team in February and March 2021, saving significant police resources for other matters. In addition to social diversion calls, RCMP are actively focused on crime prevention, offering information sessions with community partners, as well as responding to calls for service relating to the pandemic.

The RCMP remains committed to being responsive to the needs of our communities through this healthcare crisis” said Superintendent Grobmeier, Officer in Charge for the Red Deer RCMP Detachment. “Our approach is to engage and educate with a goal of gaining voluntary compliance, but we turn to enforcement when needed. Public safety is our top priority.”

RCMP has also seen success in a number of innovative tools to assist in strategic policing, including the CAPTURE camera registry, 529 Garage bike registry, and online crime reporting.

“Reporting online is a convenient way for citizens to report minor crime. These reports assist us in crime analysis, aids us in establishing trends and patterns, and ultimately leads our investigators to the chronic offenders,” said Grobmeier. “Ultimately, we want all crime – no matter how small – reported.”

Red Deer RCMP presented an update to Red Deer’s Annual Policing Plan at today’s City Council meeting.

For more information, please contact:

Corporate Communications
The City of Red Deer

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