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Alberta RCMP and Rural Crime Watch Associations sign memorandum of understanding

Feb 19, 2018 | 5:00 AM

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Alberta RCMP and Alberta Rural Crime Watch associations.

RCMP say reducing crime in Alberta cannot be achieved through policing alone and signing this memorandum outlines the roles each organization will play in keeping rural communities safe.

“Anytime you can get an official stamp from RCMP, as one of the partners that you work with, it’s great,” said Wayne Davies, President of Grande Prairie District Crime Watch.  ‘We’ve always had the RCMP’s support, it’s just maybe a more formal partnership than it was before.”

Davies says the job of Rural Crime Watch members is to watch the community and report back to RCMP.

“The community needs to know that anything that Crime Watch does, RCMP are involved to some extent.  If you report something to Crime Watch, it is reported to RCMP,” he said.   “We are nothing official that can legally make arrests or investigate, we just pass on information.”

Those who would like to become a Grande Prairie District Crime Watch member can visit gpcrimewatch.ca or talk to any member about how to join the team.