Mountie Bob Gollan might not always get his man, but gets the information he needs. The RCMP staff sergeant appeared at the March 13 Creston town council meeting to ask for its policing priorities after he got no reply to a similar request in January.
“I need to know your community policing priorities by the end of the week so I can prepare my annual plan,” he told councillors.
“We’ve been pretty busy working on policing,” Coun. Tanya Ducharme laughed, referring to census results that now require the town to pay for a portion of local policing costs.
Gollan didn’t walk away empty handed.
“I want to see more ‘boots on the street’,” Coun. Wes Graham said, referring to foot patrols, especially in the downtown area.
Coun. Scott Veitch asked for a focus on teen drinking. As a parent of two teens, he said he thinks the issue needs attention.
Gollan replied in the affirmative to Coun. Joanna Wilson’s question about whether he had identified domestic abuse as a priority.
“Domestic abuse is identified as part of our quality assurance review to ensure that the policies we have are being correctly followed,” he said.
Prolific offenders will continue to be a priority, too, he said. He said he felt a change in approach in recent years has been effective.
“We don’t target the crime, we target the individuals,” he said. Police keep a close watch on repeat offenders who, statistically, are likely to continue a life in crime. “We make sure they are aware that there is help for those who want to change their ways.”
Coun. Jerry Schmalz asked whether there is a problem with teens and young adults being homeless and either living outdoors or “couch surfing” at the homes of friends. Gollan said there is, and that this small group is mostly responsible for thefts from vehicles.
“These aren’t kids who are going to break a window to get into a vehicle,” he said. “But they wander around trying car doors to see if they are open. Then they look for change or items that can be quickly sold for cash. It’s a problem that can be pretty much solved by people locking their vehicle doors.”