Innisfail RCMP experienced similar crime trends as the rest of the province in 2017, which was a busy year.

The biggest increase noted was in property crimes, up 47% last year. That includes break and enters, stolen vehicles, and theft under $5,000. Crimes against persons meantime, such as assault and uttering threats, were down 17%.

Staff Sergeant Chris Matechuk presented some current crime stats at last night’s Town Council meeting, where he also outlined the detachments multi-year financial plan, which includes some added costs in response to the current opioid crisis.

“We’ll need a few more Ion scanners, naloxone is another big thing that costs police in this day and age, when we are dealing with all the opioids like fentanyl, keeping our members safe.”

Matechuk also notes they are already noticing some positive improvements when looking at the first quarter crime stats for 2018.

"When it comes to total persons crime in 2017, we had 43 complaints in the areas of assaults, criminal harrassment, uttering threats and the same time period this year we only seen 34 complaints, and on the property end of it when you look at break and enters, thefts, theft over $5000, possession of stolen property, frauds, and mischief in the first 4 months in 2017 we had 233 files or complaints, this year to date so far we have 195".

RCMP Hat

He hopes various crime reduction strategies being implemented across the province, as well as continued citizen engagement will help further reduce property crime increases.