On Aug. 22, Crossfield’s newest Peace Officer Scott Maurice was sworn in as a Level 1 peace officer through the Province.
Maurice was an Albert Sheriff for almost five years before making the move to a peace officer.
“I wanted to focus more on community style law enforcement,” he said. “I enjoy the small town appeal and I found Crossfiled would be good fit.”
Maurice joins Crossfield’s other peace officer Dan Luft, who has been a peace officer for about six years and has spent the last year in Crossfield.
“I grew up here in Crossfield and when the position opened, it seemed like a good way to give back to the community,” Luft said.
The pair said the biggest misconception about their job is that they have no authority.
“Most people don’t think we can actually do anything but we have the full traffic authority of the province for our jurisdiction,” Luft said.
The peace officers are employed by the Town of Crossfield but are under the authority of Alberta’s solicitor general and can enforce traffic laws using photo radar and laser speed guns to detect speeders.
“A lot of people in Alberta just don’t know what we do,” Luft said.
He explains peace offier enforce provincial traffic laws, and bylaw officers enforce the bylaws of the municipality and do not have the authority provinical authority peace officers do.
Luft said a good chunk of the officers’ day is dedicated to traffic enforcement, which is part of the reason a second officer was hired.
“There is a high demand for traffic and provincial enforcement in the community,” he said.
The officers also said they spend time enforcing bylaws within the town, and in particular those that fall within the Community Standard Bylaw, which has an emphasis on beautification.
“Mostly we target unsightly properties,” Luft said, adding this includes overgrown weeds, rubbish and trash in yards.
Private residences aren’t the only properties that may not meet community standard and business beautification is also an area the officers deal with.
They also enforce provincial animal protection legislation and Left said in the summer, they mostly focus on animals left in cars on hot days.
He added they also respond to complaints surrounding improper animal trapping and destroying animals.
The pair said once they respond to a complaint, it is only the beginning of their time devoted to that call.
“For every hour of us actually showing up (to a call), it’s probably two hours or better of paperwork that we have to do,” Luft said. “There is a lot of background work to a very small appearance.”
Luft, the seasoned officer in Crossfield, said responses to complaints varies but they try to get to the area of concern the same day as the complaint was issued and they try to keep the complainant updated as to what is being done on the issue.
As for the reaction from residents when the officers visit them with a complaint, Luft said that varies too.
“With some people it’s as simple as stopping by once and they take action,” he said. “Sometime we have to chase them and go through the court system which can take two weeks or more.”
As of press time, Maurice had just completed his third day on the job and said his focus for now is to follow Luft’s lead.
Both officers said they are open to any questions from residents about what they do in town.
“There is nothing wrong with calling us first to see if we can deal with the situation. That is what we are here for,” Luft said, adding if they cannot help you they will direct you to who can.
The officers can be reached through the Town office at 403-946-5565, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
