Pubdate: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 Source: Whitecourt Star (CN AB) Copyright: 2006 Whitecourt Star Contact: http://www.whitecourtstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/718 Author: Mark Ladan NEW TOP COP AT RCMP For just the second time in his 27 years as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Staff Sergeant Mike Martel has taken a posting outside of Manitoba. He is the new Whitecourt Detachment Commander and has been on the job here since April 3. Martel, 52, was able to make his move to Alberta because of a change in the promotion structure within the RCMP. Mounties stationed in any of the Prairie Provinces can compete for promotions in those provinces, which make up what is known as the Northwest Region. "I've always been interested in working in Alberta," said Martel. "It's a bigger province, there are bigger challenges. I like challenges." Martel's last posting was in the tiny northern Manitoba community of Leaf Rapids, which is about 200 kilometres north of Thompson. There he had seven people in his command. Here in Whitecourt he has about 20 and that has been one of the challenges, however he says the staff here are very professional. And even though there hasn't been a full time detachment commander for several months here, Martel says everything was in good shape when he arrived. "I'm very happy so far with the staff that I have. Of course there are certain avenues that, over time I may be changing but overall things are very good." The experience that he has gained over his almost three decades as a police officer is what Martel feels is his best asset in his new position here. With it he'll be able mentor the younger officers under his command to become better at what they do professionally and in turn better members of the community they serve. In the research Martel did on Whitecourt before arriving here he found out what everyone here already knows -- Whitecourt has a young population (the average age is 29 years) and the economy is booming. "Things happen when people are making money, crime rises a bit." Among the policing issues that Martel sees as a priority is staying on top of the illegal drug trade -- something he says is becoming an increasingly mounting problem for most communities across the country. "I think that we are doing a good job here, but can we do better? I would imagine we could probably do better." One of the keys to reducing illegal drug traffic, according to Martel, is the same thing that can be used in combating any criminal activity -- community cooperation and support of police initiatives. "The days where police are there to solve everything are gone," he says. "We don't have magic wands, so we need the support of the (mayor and councillors) and we need the support of the public. We can't be everywhere 24 hours a day, it's impossible. The support of the community is very important." To foster and maintain the support of the community, Martel encourages his officers to become involved in the community. He says this allows the public to see the other side of a police officer -- to see them as a friend and neighbor, not just a person in a uniform. Since his arrival in Whitecourt, Martel has met with Mayor Trevor Thain and council to establish policing priorities for the community. The top priorities are the aforementioned drug trade, as well as traffic flow on Highway 43 and vandalism. "To me I think the drug issue would be the highest priority. I think it's important to deal with it, (because) drugs, right now, affect everybody, especially young people. They are volatile, they are naive. We have seen so many shows on television about crystal meth and cocaine, it devastates a person -- it kills people. So I think we need to get the message out a little more. We need to educate our young people to show them that this is not a good thing." Martel has moved here with his wife, Diane. He also has two adult children, Kyle, 22, and Kevin, 19. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom