In the days leading up to the municipal election on October 16, we will be publishing the answers to questions posed by 2day FM to the candidates running in the County of Grande Prairie. The responses are listed in alphabetical order by division and are unedited. They have not been fact checked and 2day FM is not responsible for any errors or inaccuracies.
Q: What more do you think could be done to address crime in the county?
DIVISION 2
Daryl Beeston
A: Crime has been going down in the county and also the city over the last years. I feel that the RCMP are targeting problem areas and moving to try and deal with the problem. Over the last few years county council has added 6 RCMP to our enforcement services division which also includes 9 police officers that has allowed us to increase patrols.
Don Streeper
A: When I was on the Provincial Planning and productive service committee is was proven to the Committee the more By-law and Police patrols lower the Crime rate
Thomas Tharp
No response submitted.
DIVISION 3
Leanne Beaupre
A: Economic factors really dictate the crime stats both negatively and pisitively. I believe the County of Grande Prairie has looked at this issue from a global perspective. We are actively engaged in discussions with the provincial and local RCMP .
Two County paid RCMP Enhanced members have been directed to units that concentrate on specific tasks. CRU- crime reduction unit and GSI- general investigative unit . We also support Rural Crime Watch and The Dare program for school age County students.
The County recognizes that the provincial RCMP have to cover a large geographical area . We have now hired 6 additional RCMP and several Community Peace officers to deal with criminal code and bylaw issues respectively.
Barry Yaehne
A: The easy answer would be to increase enforcement services but I recognize there needs to a balance. The best way to increase the need for increased enforcement services in the county is to grow and justify that increase.
DIVISION 4
Maurissa Hietland
A: I am a director for Rural Crime Watch in my zone, and I’ve been working on implementing a program that has been extremely successful in Europe: all of their neighborhood watch program has adopted the use of a secure chat app. Working with local law enforcement, break and enter arrest rate has more than doubled. I believe collaboration between this local and volunteer organization would greatly enhance and extend the reach of our enforcement services and RCMP.
Bernie Smashnuk
A: Intelligent lead policing along with prevention and educating the public.
Ross Sutherland
No response submitted.
DIVISION 5
Kevin Gingles
No response submitted.
Robert Hill
No response submitted.
Bob Marshall
No response submitted.
DIVISION 6
Peter Harris
No response submitted.
Ashley Heggelund
No response submitted.
Kathy Longson
A: The enhanced RCMP program collaborates closely with Peace Officers, Bylaw Officers and Animal Control Officers working on crime preventions initiatives. The county’s newly introduced integrated RCMP Officers and Peace Officers program is recognized as a model for the province. We need to monitor the impact of this model in the region. We all look for a more robust police presence and concern has been raised this presence is very limited after midnight.
DIVISION 7
Arthur Amendt
No response submitted.
Linda Dianne Waddy
No response submitted.
DIVISION 9
Dwayne A. Badry
No response submitted.
Corey Beck
A: My position on enforcement services has always been a supportive one. They protect our roads, educate our students, and keep our special events safe. Just to name a few things. Keeping a fully staffed unit is one of the issues that we would like to work on. Without full staffing it’s hard for them to do their job.