Pubdate: Thu, 27 May 2004 Source: Daily Herald-Tribune, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2004 The Daily Herald-Tribune Contact: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/804 CRIME PREVENTION IS EVERYONE'S JOB Being involved in the process key to making city a safer place Several weeks ago, there was a series of meetings about crime in Grande Prairie that sought input from residents on suggestions about what could be done about the incidence, if not the increasing severity, of criminal acts. There was some dismay when the meetings, while yielding some people's personal experiences of how they were affected and fears for their personal safety, didn't attract as many citizens as was anticipated. Nevertheless, it was a good start. For one thing, city RCMP are preparing to implement a zone style of patrolling, where officers would be assigned to specific neighbourhoods of Grande Prairie. It's the tried-and-true cop-on-the-beat philosophy, where Mounties would be more familiar with their area of responsibility and residents or businesses within that area would come to know who "their" lawmen and lawwomen were. The theme song could well be "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you." Part of the concept could include satellite police stations, say one in the south and one in the north -- sort of like the fire halls -- rather than having everything centred in the downtown RCMP headquarters (soon to be relocated to a site south of the courthouse). The sessions in April came up with three root causes of crime -- substance abuse (the focus is on drug-driven crime, which is expanding in Grande Prairie, according to police), a lack of community connectedness (people are becoming increasingly impersonal as the city population grows), and a breakdown of the family unit. The Mounties are well aware of the drugs and alcohol factor and have been nailing suspects right, left and centre of late, judging by news reports in the Herald-Tribune. People themselves have expressed concerns that Grande Prairie is getting too "big"; that no one knows anyone anymore, and there's less of a know thy neighbour factor. Family breakdowns are a broader societal issue, solutions to which may continue to evade the multiple agencies involved. Next week, these three concerns are going to be expanded on at a day-long crime prevention strategy meeting, scheduled Tuesday at the Quality Inn. It is billed as a brainstorming session on each of the issues and is being co-ordinated by the RCMP and Family and Community Support Services. Information on the meeting can be got from Cpl. Brent Mundle or FCSS manager Donelda Laing. Check the advertisement on page four of Wednesday's newspaper for details. There's no charge. It's wide open to anyone. And if Grande Prairians really want to make their community a safer as well as a greater place to be, it's the best chance to have a say-so. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin