The Airdrie RCMP's inaugural Mochas With Mounties event held today (February 27) at Sorso Lounge was a resounding success.

The RCMP came up with the idea to engage with the community in an open forum in a different Airdrie coffee shop each month.  This morning, Airdrie officers, including Detachment Commander Inspector Kimberley Pasloske did just that and met a great response.

"Every table is full," said Pasloske.  "We've been able to talk to a great cross-section of the community from young parents to people that are in their retirement, single people, couples, families, so it's been fantastic."

Pasloske says they were expecting some people to come out and express worry over the crime in Airdrie but, in fact, those on hand expressed that Airdrie is a

very safe place to live, something she says the RCMP already know.  What they were interested in was knowing what time most crimes happen.

"Like when do break and enters happen and what can they do to prevent those types of things.  Actually, the answers to those questions are not what you'd think.  Most people think that break and enters happen at night, they've got that thing in their head, but most break and enters happen during the day.  I was able to show them, we break down the times.  Providing that visual representation of when the things happen has really helped the community."

Pasloske says one man came in because he wants to be recruited by the RCMP while a family asked what they could do about the problems they were having with their neighbours. 

 

Pasloske believes that the Airdrie community wants small town policing and wants to know their RCMP members.  She says, "I grew up just north of here in Carstairs.  I really, truly believe that the community wants small town policing.  They want to know their police officers, they want to know they're safe.  This provides an opportunity to do that, for us to connect with them and for them to connect with us."

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