Earlier this year, the Saskatchewan RCMP launched the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network, a system designed to get the word out to the public about thefts, suspicious individuals and other incidents.
There have been numerous success stories since it was launched, with police making arrests through tips generated by the crime watch network. And there have been a few instances in which an incident proved to be unfounded, and police had to say that the suspicious person seen in a yard was merely a neighbour.
But it’s been so successful that the Estevan Police Service was the first municipal police service in the province to join the network.
And last week, we saw an example of how well it can work when used right.
The EPS sent out a message to get the word out regarding people in a vehicle who were shining a green laser pointer into the eyes of passing motorists. It might not seem like much, but it is a very dangerous situation that could have led to a serious collision.
Within 30 minutes of receiving the first call, the EPS sent out the advisory, which meant that everyone who subscribes to the EPS notifications was informed of this situation. Seventeen minutes after the initial message was sent out, the EPS had sent another message, saying they arrest four people.
Now we don’t necessarily know if the arrests were connected to the original advisory network post, or if the police would have tracked them down anyways.
But arrests were made, it was shared on social media, including the Estevan Mercury’s Facebook page, which has more than 5,900 likes, and more people were aware of the situation that if the EPS wasn’t on the network.
If people were skeptical earlier this year about the EPS joining the network, those doubts should now be erased. And if other municipal police forces were wondering about being part of the network, this is why it’s a good idea.
As we enter a new decade, with all the tools that are out there to get information out to the public immediately, it makes sense for police to use these tools as much as possible.
The first year for the network has been successful. There are more than 13,000 subscribers across the province. Some of them only subscribe to their detachment; others subscribe to every detachment in the province. It’s up to you to decide how much information you want to receive.
We’ve said previously that this network is almost like a police scanner for this day and age. Police can use this system to let the public know that something has happened. Thefts, suspicious activities and even assaults can be reported through the network. If there’s a cluster of crimes in an area, the police can get that information out to the public to get the words out.
There’s usually going to be a lag time between when the incident happened and when it can be reported. That’s the nature of police work. But subscribers to the network will vouch for the fact that the public gets the information quicker than ever.
Earlier this year, an advisory was sent regarding a stolen vehicle in Alameda within an hour of the incident. The culprit was apprehended a couple of days later. It’s not the only success story in the southeast involving the crime watch network.
This latest instance with the EPS is the best case we’ve seen to date of using the network to get information out to the public immediately, and having positive results.
It’s proof the system can work when used right.
