New initiative will have MHPS and RCMP working together to address cross-jurisdictional issues that affect investigations.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
A new initiative to address crime will see Medicine Hat Police Service and the RCMP working together across traditional boundaries.
Andy McGrogan, chief MHPS, says the priority street crimes team is now expanding into a regional property crimes team after presenting a business case to the province showing the benefits of a new initiative.
The case study looked at nine specific cases where cross-jurisdictional issues had negatively impacted investigations.
McGrogan uses an example of someone in a rural area contacting MHPS after a robbery where a large amount of cash was stolen. The description of the suspect, believed to be addicted to drugs, helped MHPS to identify someone who was known to police. However the crime took place in a rural area covered by the RCMP.
McGrogan says by the time the suspect was apprehended the stolen cash was gone and could not be recovered.
“If we would have had a regional team in place we would have been on that instantly and probably would have had that person and hopefully had some of that cash returned,” said McGrogan.
Funding for three RCMP members to join the MHPS priority street crimes team has now been granted, said McGrogan. The province will also fund one of four MHPS officers on the team who were previously all funded by the city.
The RCMP is not able to immediately place people in the positions so members of MHPS are filling in until the RCMP appoints its own members within a matter of months, McGrogan said.
“It gives us the ability to co-ordinate our activities all over southeastern Alberta in relation to prolific street crimes,” said McGrogan.
The group has been operating for a couple of months already and has already seen significant success, said McGrogan.
“Last week we got a stolen vehicle, a motorcycle … it’s been good,” he said.
A scheduled press conference in Medicine Hat with Doug Schweitzer, minister of justice and solicitor general, to make the announcement on Monday was cancelled with no rescheduled date provided.
The anticipated announcement by Schweitzer was also to include drug-related crime and addiction treatment supports. Schweitzer’s office was not immediately able on Monday to provide details on that initiative.
“I am thankful the government listened … We are going to show results,” said McGrogan. “As soon as they (the RCMP) bring their members in we will be standing our members down,” said McGrogan.
