Community members can help ensure safe summer

It’s that time of year again when the summer weather is here, and the City has once again done an outstanding job of prepping our parks and green spaces for the public to enjoy. School will be out very shortly and many of the parks and green spaces will be filled with children enjoying their summer vacation.

During the summer of 2015 and 2016, the police service received reports of people near our parks and jogging trails exposing themselves. It was further compounded by the fact that in some cases the eye witnesses were young children. So by the time they explained it to a babysitter or caregiver, who then explained it to a parent, who in turn called the police, a lot of time had passed.

This type of criminal behaviour is absolutely unacceptable. People who prey on children are the dregs of society and cannot be allowed to offend with impunity. As I wrote last year, the city’s parks are OURS so we must not run and hide. WE must assert that as a community WE will look out for each other to protect our youth.

In my opinion, the sex offender registry in Alberta is essentially useless. It has very few mechanisms for the person convicted of exploiting, abusing or sexually assaulting a child, to be held accountable or truly monitored after their sentence has been served. It is basically an honour system. It does not have the teeth to allow police, probation and parole officers to aggressively and proactively conduct checks on the person after they have completed their sentence. To change this will take legislative amendments and that could take years.

In the meantime, we all have to play a part in protecting the children using our public parks and green spaces this summer. This is not just a police responsibility. It falls to all of us to keep our eyes open and watch out for the most vulnerable and innocent demographic in our society.

I know in my neighbourhood there is a very vibrant and active number of seniors who are regular walkers. If you are part of a similar group, make cutting through one of our parks part of your routine. The same can be applied to the many people I see out in the evenings on bicycles during the summer, on the coulee trails and out and about throughout the city.

The concept is very similar to old-school policing. You establish a route and once you know it, you will notice things that stick out from the ordinary or normal. You may also disrupt the person conducting the indecent acts because they fear an adult may take vigilante action. For the record, do not resort to vigilante action. Instead, report the crime immediately and be the best witness you can be.

Last year, I wrote an article that the people who know a neighbourhood best are those who live in it. I still maintain that belief. My experience has been that neighbours will notice the little things that stand out as not being normal. If you notice a person, vehicle or activity that is not normal, make a note of it. The easiest way in this day and age is a quick photo or video on your phone, but only if you can do so safely. Do not put yourself in harm’s way. This same philosophy can be applied to looking out for each other in a neighbourhood to deter and prevent property crime including thefts from vehicles and break and enters.

When it comes to crimes in progress — specifically someone exposing themselves or committing an indecent act — call the police. Tell the dispatcher right up front that you are calling in a sex offender so that the City’s Public Safety Communication Centre (PSCC) can assign it as a priority call.

If you are a parent, babysitter or caregiver, make sure you go through safety with your children and have safety plans in place. Better yet — take the time to go to the park or green space with them. Again — you will notice what and who is out of place. Let’s all work together so the summer of 2017 does not have more unsolved indecent incidents and the youth of our city can have a fun and safe school break.