As part of an effort to reduce rural crime, the provincial RCMP is encouraging citizens to establish rural crime watches and citizens on patrol.
Cpl. Mel Zurevinsky, who is assigned to help citizens start up these organizations, said there aren’t any around Tisdale.
“We’ve set out to revitalize these programs and get them going again because, face it, the RCMP can’t be everywhere at all times and with these programs, it gives the police some extra eyes and ears to fight that criminal element and reduce crime – and solve crime.”
Rural crime watches are programs where citizens remain vigilant on what’s happening around the community, letting the RCMP know if there’s something suspicious. There’s also signs on the road and near home to let people know there’s a crime watch active in the area.
Citizens on patrol are designed for larger communities. They’re a group of citizens that actively patrol around town, looking for suspicious activities. If any are found, the RCMP is informed.
None of the members of either group can take physical action.
“People who are in rural crime watch or citizens on patrol don’t have special powers,” Zurevinsky said. “They’re just eyes and ears for the RCMP and if something’s going on, they report it immediately.”
The programs were popular in the early 2000s, but as interest waned, many died off. Now there’s 35 to 40 communities working to get programs off the ground.
Rural crime watches have adapted to the changing times. For example, the 90 members of the Edenwold crime watch have a group on Whatsapp, a messaging app for smartphones.
“There’s a main person on the app that relays messages to the RCMP and messages from the RCMP come back to that co-ordinator and he disseminates it out on that app,” Zurevinsky said.
Zurevinsky told the story of how one of the local farmers hired a new hand. Other locals, not knowing who he was started reporting suspicious behaviour on the Whatsapp. The farmer saw these messages and let everyone know the hand was supposed to be there and gave information on what he drove so others knew.
“Just through interaction like that – and that communication – it brings a community closer together and people watch out for each other,” Zurevinsky said.
The RCMP office said those interested in starting a local rural crime watch can contact the nearest RCMP detachment, which has information and other resources to help out.
“The local detachment usually has a couple members associated to each group, whether it be citizens on patrol or rural crime watch,” Zurevinsky said. “They’ll attend meetings periodically and they can speak of what’s happening in the area, dos and don’ts, that type of thing, before it’s up and running.”
Zurevinsky said these programs rely on citizens to get started and keep going.
“It’s really up to communities to keep them vibrant and keep them going. It’s ears and eyes for the RCMP because, it’s a fact, we can’t be everywhere at all times,” he said. “We feel these programs can reduce crime in an area.”
