Edmonton police enlist community’s help to decrease crime

By Kimberly Melo

CANORA — The Edmonton Police Service hoping to decrease crime in the west end by enlisting the help of communities.

Members of Canora Community Park Watch gathered with officers from Edmonton’s west division on Sept. 20 at a meet-the-police event to create an opportunity for west end citizens and police officers to communicate directly.

Canora park watch co-ordinator Deckla Lindgren said the purpose of this event was “to have the police come for us, the citizens, and tell us how we can help the police protect us.”

Members of the Edmonton Police Service discussed illegal activity such as drug trafficking, property crime and prostitution, and they discussed how they are working to reduce the rate of these crimes through projects varying from undercover work to social help to drug plans etc. Members of the community were then able to engage in a question-and-answer period to address their personal concerns and find out from the police how to go about dealing with these issues.

They were encouraged to report suspicious activity and crimes-in-progress to police. They were also urged to get to know their neighbours and to become familiar with the resources in place to assist with the problem.

Edmonton Police Sgt. James Elkow not only addressed how west end citizens can aid the police with crime reduction, but also how to address their concerns that are not crime-related but are disturbances to community peace.

This was an opportunity for police to “show this is who we are and what we do,” said Elkow. “We are here because we care and are concerned.”

So far in 2011, West Division Edmonton Police have reduced the level of crime by 28 per cent, compared to 21 per cent in 2010. This was achieved through a policing program created called the Stony Plain Road Beats, which consists of day and night patrols by vehicle, on bicycle and on foot four days a week.

The Canora community Meet-the-Police event was one of many that take place in communities all across Edmonton, said Elkow.

The turnout at the Canora community meeting exceeded expectations, with about 50 residents in attendance. Police urge citizens throughout Edmonton to contact their local police to set up similar events.