The Town of Slave Lake received the following release from the RCMP:
๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ.
Slave Lake - May 17, 2024 - In recent months, several high-profile incidents involving homeless encampments and systemic social disorder have occurred across Alberta. While social issues can contribute to the root causes of criminality, reports of crime in Slave Lake are down. However, there are still concerns within the community around the potential for similar social unrest. In response, the Slave Lake RCMP is developing a working group to address the issues being raised.
The Slave Lake RCMP, with support from the Alberta RCMP’s Community Safety and Well-Being Branch, is already engaging with the community and developing law enforcement strategies to address these growing concerns. Because the issues facing the community go beyond the RCMP’s role of law enforcement, the Slave Lake RCMP is also inviting local partners to form the working group.
“We can’t arrest our way out of complex social issues,” says Sarah Desmond, Crime Reduction Partnership Liaison with the Alberta RCMP Community Safety and Well-Being Branch. “While accountability for crime is necessary, lasting crime reduction isn’t possible without recognizing social issues contributing to the cycle of criminality. Homelessness, mental health issues, and addictions require a long-term, integrated approach to effectively address. We hope to bring together key partners and stakeholders from different sectors to develop lasting solutions for the community.”
The Slave Lake RCMP have extended invitations to participate in the working group to Lesser Slave Lake M.L.A Scott Sinclair, the Town of Slave Lake, the M.D of Lesser Slave River, the Alberta Sheriffs Branch, and Alberta Health Services. They have also invited several local groups that provide support within Slave Lake and the region.
Each organization invited has a unique role in the community’s well-being. Police provide enforcement; community groups, health services, and welfare organizations provide essential services and support; and local and provincial leaders address legislative and administrative challenges and provide assistance in overcoming organizational roadblocks.
The Slave Lake Detachment has also contacted Francesca Ward, the Mayor of Slave Lake, who has expressed her support for the initiative and recognizes the benefits of a collaborative approach to addressing community challenges.
“We’ve been hearing from our local leaders and from the community that they have concerns about the social issues Slave Lake is facing,” says S/Sgt. Casey Bruyns, Detachment Commander of the Slave Lake RCMP. “The Slave Lake RCMP is committed to doing everything within our mandate to keep people safe, but truly addressing these systemic issues requires our municipal and provincial government’s, health services’, family services,’ and the community’s involvement. We hope that by putting together this working group, we can develop real, permanent solutions to the problems facing Slave Lake.”