As the population of Rocky View County (RVC) continues to grow, some residents have perceived an unwanted side effect creeping in along with it – increased rates of rural crime. While RCMP does a commendable job of policing such an expansive municipality, officers can’t be everywhere at once. And so, to fill in the gaps and help make RVC a safer place to live, residents have taken it upon themselves to watch for and report suspicious activity. This week, we spoke to a Beiseker resident who is spearheading a new Citizens on Patrol committee in the village (see story here), and several weeks ago, we covered the resurgence of the Block Parent program in the community of Crossfield. Cochrane is also home to its own group of Citizens on Patrol volunteers. These initiatives could certainly never take the place of a true police presence within rural areas, but it’s encouraging to see residents finding opportunities to make a difference in their neighbourhoods. Through the effort of committed members of these rural communities, the people who live there can feel a little bit safer, knowing there is someone looking out for them and there is a safe place for them to turn if they ever need help.
