Swift Current RCMP had a busy October

A busy month of October has pushed up the trend of higher total occurrences responded to by members of the Swift Current City RCMP Detachment.

Staff Sergeant Gary Hodges from the Detachment presented a statistical report at the December 3 Swift Current City Council meeting which included data up to the end of October.

The statistics show the detachment responded to 451 total occurrences during October to reach a year to date total of 4,178 calls for service during the time period of April 1 to October 31. This year is now slightly ahead of the pace of 4,160 calls from 2017, and is well up from the 3,840 calls for the same seven month time period during 2016.

Swift Current’s stats for the period of April 1 to August 31 were 3,322 this year, which was slightly behind the pace of 3,366 last year.

“The October stats, they present as the highest in three years - the number of calls for service,” Staff Sgt. Hodges told City Council. “So we continue to work away at those calls and make the community a safer place.”

“In particular you’ll note there’s an increase in Theft Under $5,000 calls, which is due in part to a number of ‘car shopping’ complaints. I seem to talk about them in numerous different interviews and in this forum. We encourage people again this time of year please lock your car, don’t leave your keys in it. Just while you’re out shopping, there’s others that may be ‘shopping’ complements of you and your vehicle. So please secure your vehicles to help prevent that crime.”

He also noted there were nine impaired driving calls in October, but just one instance resulted in charges, as six of them were determined to be unfounded as their driving behaviour was not a result of an impaired driver.

Staff Sgt. Hodges also shared with Council a successful investigation which led to the execution of a warrant where RCMP seized methamphetamine, cocaine and amphetamines with a total street value of $66,000, along with cash and weapons.

RCMP School Liaison officer Constable Toni Curti also spoke to council about his duties at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School.

Constable Curti assumed the liaison officer duties on September 1, and has made it a priority to be visible in the school by attending and participating in school activities.

“I’ve had a lot of opportunities to do some random talks in classes. So I pop in every time I see a classroom door open. I’m always in the hallways and trying to include myself in anyway I can just to show visibility. That’s very important to me to just be visible, so I’m visible, I’m approachable, and they know that they can come to me whenever they want.”

While there are RCMP liaison officers in schools across the province, Swift Current boasts the only position which is fully funded through dollars approved by City Council.