I fear I might open the hornets' nest with this week's column.
But after the events of last month I no longer have much choice. I have to talk about the crime situation in the Battlefords, for no other reason than because that is what most of you are talking about.
Needless to say, it was a dismal month of September for law-abiding citizens in North Battleford, following a dismal summer of school break-ins, property crimes and the news that the crime severity index was again the worst in the country.
There were two shooting incidents in the city - one on Sept. 1 and another on Sept. 16. In between was the weekend of the text-message and social media rumours about local gangs threatening random violence involving firearms, which later proved false.
Then came the last weekend of September, which saw two walking-trail attacks on women walking in the evening, prompting an arrest for sexual assault.
Two days later came the really bad news that a man was stabbed to death at the Travelodge on Railway Avenue and 101st Street.
Looking at what we have seen in North Battleford during the last month, I can only think back to early 2010 and the situation then.
That was the last time we had a very bad violent crime wave in the Battlefords, a wave that included a downtown ATM stabbing, a violent home invasion on 98th Street and a violent hotel armed robbery in the town of Battleford, among many others.
But things did seem to improve after that. There were still break-ins and too much property crime, but also fewer instances of serious violence. To me it seemed the Battlefords were, if not turning the corner, at least seeing the crime situation begin to level off.
I have no reason to feel that way anymore.
What Cpl. Jason Teniuk said at the public meeting last week was very true when he talked about how there are peaks and valleys, highs and lows, with the crime. We're certainly seeing the high end now, as we did in early 2010.
A few observations about this latest wave. During the 2010 crime wave, the violence reported in the Battlefords was mainly of the serious "knives" and "clubs" variety. Another weapon was bear spray, used by youths in an attack on another youth in North Battleford in 2012.
But at least people weren't being shot, or killed. The three shootings in 2013, including the May incident, are a troubling departure from what we have seen before.
As for the killing at the Travelodge, my surprise is that this sort of incident didn't happen sooner.
Back in 2010, the reaction I saw in the community was one of alarm. People were shocked and made clear they wanted to get moving to address it.
It's different this time. My sense is people are angry and fed up.
There is no other way to put it after a meeting on public safety last Monday at the Don Ross Centre, called by the City. It really was a tense, confrontational atmosphere, with people venting about gangs, the curfew bylaw and other issues.
It's not as if nothing has been tried. The City added seven police officers in three years, they established the HUB. Yet people feel less safe than ever.
The question now is what more can be done. If I sound demoralized in offering potential solutions, trust me when I say I have plenty of company.
Feel free to offer your ideas, but here are my suggestions:
First, it's time to stop talking about establishing Neighbourhood Watch in North Battleford, and actually get on with it. As Elvis said, we need a little less conversation and a little more action.
Second, we need a stepped-up focus by the RCMP on violent crime and property crime. This must be where any additional resources should be directed. We have enough traffic cops as it is.
Third, encourage the worthwhile efforts already begun, such as HUB, and improve on them.
Fourth, figure out some way to deal with youth crime through stepped-up curfew bylaw enforcement, or whatever else will work. (But don't forget the adults that are committing crimes in the city.)
Fifth, officials must heed the demand for better communication with the public on the crime that is actually happening in the community, so people will know the facts about what really is going on and won't fall victim to rumors and innuendo.
Sixth, to the experts with expert opinions on what can be done on crime, we need your advice on what will work now more than ever before.
Seventh, stop wasting energy bemoaning the media's "negative" portrayal of North Battleford. Instead, focus on doing something about the crime that is the source of those negative stories in the first place.
Eighth, police and the City need to listen to any feedback and good ideas that come forward from the public that will address the crime situation.
Ninth, if there is one thing I saw at that meeting last Monday it was a big divide between the City representatives and the RCMP on the stage, and the upset people in the audience.
This cannot continue. We need everyone - the City, the RCMP and public - on the same page moving together with a sense of partnership and trust in one another so they can achieve what they all want, which is a safer community.
Tenth, I know it's tough after this past month, but I'm reminded of the phrase "keep calm and carry on."
If nothing else, we need to lower the temperature and focus our energies directly on the concrete solutions that ought to be done. Let's keep calm and get on with bringing down crime in the Battlefords.
