The Drumheller Police Committee is asking for the community’s input into this coming year’s policing priorities.
The Drumheller Police Committee plays a number of roles. One is to help identify the priorities for policing. To do this they go to the community.
“We want to get as many people as we can to go on and do the questionnaire and help us when we go with the RCMP, to plan based on what the community sees as priorities for policing,” said Fred Makowecki.
The survey is posted on the Town of Drumheller’s website, and it is the perfect opportunity to get involved by telling the committee where you believe policing efforts should be made.
He is impressed with the progress the committee has made.
“Just the fact that we are part of the performance plan and they actually listen is great,” he said, adding that previously the enforcement priories were set outside the community.
Makowecki says the role of the committee includes civilian governance over police services. It is the place to turn when there are concerns about policing.
Drumheller is a member of the Alberta Association of Police Governance (AAPG) and Makowecki is a director. He recently met with the Alberta Association of Police Chiefs to open lines of communications.
“It is understanding the roles that each have and how they intersect and have common goals,” said Makowecki.
The AAPG is also a lobbying body and annually make resolutions to present to the provincial government to improve policing. He says a working relationship with the Police Chiefs could help these efforts.
He explains that if the local committee has an enforcement concern, it could make a resolution and present to the AAPG. If accepted, it could become a lobbying point for the group. If they can garner support for the same issues with other groups such as the police chiefs, the more clout they could have.
Some of the AAPG’s lobby efforts have included distracted driving, enhanced funding for school resource officers and equable police funding for communities.
To participate in the survey go to www.dinosaurvalley.com and search for the Town policing committee page.
