In an effort to help establish priorities and goals for local policing through 2025 and 2026, City of Cranbrook council met with members of the Cranbrook RCMP Monday to help guide the creation of an Annual Performance Plan for the department.

These plans will help focus efforts on important areas and allow the police to track and report their progress. While local governments were previously involved in shaping these plans, this practice was paused during COVID-19. Now, the Cranbrook Detachment is eager to return to working closely with the city and community to build a strategic plan together.

The overarching goals of the 2025/2026 annual performance plan for the detachment includes some broad targets including: reducing crime and victimization with the community, increase the use of Restorative Justice, foster strong collaborative relationships with the Indigenous community, while enhancing accountability and public trust.

During the meeting, council expressed support for the RCMP to focus on reducing drug use, drug dealing, and overdoses—especially among youth. Council also emphasized the need to address theft and petty crime, and to target those who take advantage of vulnerable people in the community.

Continuing the partnership between the RCMP and the City’s Bylaw Services to respond to issues involving Cranbrook’s unhoused population remains a key priority.

“This input from council on policing initiatives and integrating it into the strategy is key to ensuring our members provide quality policing services to Cranbrook this coming year, while ensuring Cranbrook is a safe community for all who live, work and play here,” said Sgt. Stu Hert, Operations NCO with the Cranbrook RCMP Detachment.

“An important tool which is available to the public is the online reporting tool, which helps create valuable crime statistics which can help ensure the resources needed locally can be accessed and helps highlight areas of Cranbrook which are experiencing issues,” Sgt. Hert added.

 You can access the online reporting tool HERE.

In a democratic society, police must remain independent from direct government control but still be accountable to the public and civic leaders. The main role of the police is to keep the community safe and maintain order. However, each community is unique and may have different needs and expectations for their local police.

By involving Mayor and council, the police can better understand community priorities and adjust their plans accordingly. This two-way communication helps ensure that policing in Cranbrook reflects both public safety needs and the concerns of local residents.

“Focus on community policing has been a priority for council this term. The Annual Performance Plan and program follow-up have been effective in keeping policing priorities aligned with council’s goals,” said Mayor Wayne Price.

Cranbrook RCMP will monitor progress and make changes as needed to use resources effectively to meet community needs.

e-KNOW file photo

City of Cranbrook

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