Saskatchewan RCMP’s new commanding officer, Curtis Zablocki, addressed delegates at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) mid-term convention in Saskatoon last week.
Assistant Commissioner Zablocki, who was born and raised in rural Saskatchewan, talked about addressing the rural policing challenges in the province, including how the RCMP polices vast areas with growing demands and does it with finite resources.
He said he believes the answer lies in having communities play a role in their policing.
“Crime reduction and prevention must be based in community engagement and mobilization,” he said.
Zablocki encouraged rural municipalities to work with the RCMP and participate in programs such as Rural Crime Watch.
“The safety of Saskatchewan people, along with the safety of our members, is always paramount in our minds."
Zablocki said the RCMP continually monitors and reviews resource levels in relation to demands for service, while engaging in ongoing discussions with our contract partners, to deliver the most effective and efficient police service possible.
Zablocki has been a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for more than 26 years. Prior to taking over as commanding officer at F Division, he served as deputy criminal operations officer at K Division (Alberta). In this role he held responsibility of oversight for all operational policing matters in relation to general duty policing for the RCMP in Alberta, as well as the Traffic Program, Provincial Support Services, Aboriginal Policing, Forensic Identification Services, the Critical Incident Program, the Operational Communications Centre Program and Community Policing.
Zablocki began his career in law enforcement after graduating from the University of Alberta in Edmonton with a bachelor’s degree in criminology. He took official command of F Division on Sept. 6.
