Airdrie RCMP and Rocky View County Enforcement Services hosted a Community Town Hall Meeting last Thursday night (Nov. 4). 
 
In response to rural concerns, the Alberta RCMP has instituted the closest car policy. For example, Inspector Lauren Weire talked about how if a patrol car from the Beiseker detachment is closer to a priority one call located in Didsbury compared to the Disbury patrol cars, they will respond. 
 
“This allows us to collaborate with neighbouring detachments. We also have that standard operating agreement with the Calgary Police Service. We will go and assist them if we are closest and they need some assistance and vice versa.” 
 
The Inspector also touched on how long the average time is for the RCMP to respond to potentially life-threatening phone calls.
 
“Alberta RCMP prioritizes calls to ensure that situations which pose an immediate or potential threat to life are urgently dispatched. In these situations, the RCMP has an average response time of 21 minutes.” 
 
Weire goes on to say crime that does not pose an immediate threat, for example, a theft that has already taken place, might take a little longer. 
 
“The average response time of these discovery times is in no way an indication of how quickly the RCMP will respond to an urgent threat. We do expect our members to engage with the complainant and advise when a member will respond.” 
 
According to Inspector Weire the RCMP has sent out 1600 patrols within the last quarter. 
 
Other topics discussed at the meeting included home alarm systems, using gates as a way to protect rural properties, and utilizing your neighbours and working together to watch out for each other. 
 
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