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Banff RCMP seeking resident input on policing priorities

“We all realize that policing, for many reasons, has been at the forefront, with very active and important discussion in our community and society throughout North America and throughout the world,” said Staff Sgt. Mike Buxton-Carr.

BANFF – Banff RCMP is reaching out to the community to seek input on policing priorities.

In a break with tradition, RCMP are using social media and an online survey to seek input on where they should focus resources for proactive policing and how they can better communicate with residents.

Police are not asking for information about specific crimes or offenders, but Banff’s top officer says they want to hear from residents on what issues most affect their sense of safety and quality of life.

“We’ve always had active consultation with the Town of Banff – and they are critical partners – but I want to expand that and hear more directly from the people we serve,” said Staff Sergeant Mike Buxton-Carr.

“We’re trying to make sure that what we identify as priorities reflect the needs of the community. The more we can do to expand our understanding can only be helpful.”

The RCMP works with local, provincial and national governments and agencies to set annual policing priorities, and also seeks feedback from the Banff police advisory committee, which is a made up of a cross-section of local representatives.

Maintaining safety and security of the community is the top goal for the RCMP, with rapid response to crime, especially violent crime, and other 911 calls always the No. 1 priority.

The RCMP continue to rely on traditional experience, expertise, statistics and other evidence gathering methods, but want to hear ideas from residents about other proactive and preventative duties the community may need.

To solicit community feedback, the Banff RCMP posted their message on the Facebook site Overheard in Banff, which has about 11,500 members, as well as worked with the Town of Banff to put an online survey on the municipality’s website.

Staff Sgt. Buxton-Carr said the RCMP sees this as an opportunity for people to suggest events or activities where the police and public can interact, learn more about each other, and improve communication.

“With the COVID pandemic, it’s very difficult to reach out and communicate directly face-to-face right now, so that’s another reason I am trying new methods,” he said.

“It’s also a time when policing is at the forefront in society and now we’re walking around less visible than ever, either through distancing or distancing plus having the masks on.”

A driving force for the Banff RCMP to seek community feedback also stems from larger cultural conversation about policing, reignited in recent times by the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis last May.

Video footage a bystander took of Floyd’s death while police officer Derek Chauvin – who was found guilty of murder and manslaughter on April 20 – pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck quickly went viral.

Floyd’s death sparked widespread outrage, leading to mass protests and rioting against police treatment of Black people in the United States. Closer to home, it forced more cultural conversations about systemic racism in Canada.

“We all realize that policing, for many reasons, has been at the forefront, with very active and important discussion in our community and society throughout North America and throughout the world,” said Staff Sgt. Buxton-Carr.

“We wanted to make sure we’re hearing from people, hear what they currently think about us and what they currently need from us.”

The local RCMP believes they have a good relationship with the Town of Banff, residents, seasonal workers and visitors, but Buxton-Carr said they can always strive to do better.

“I think the biggest fear is we isolate ourselves if you’re not reaching out, you’re not listening. You’re going to miss the early cues, you’re going to miss the warning signs that maybe things aren’t perfect,” he said. “Things are going well, but there’s definitely an opportunity to improve and learn something.”

The RCMP are also mindful of the effects the COVID-19 pandemic have had on residents, with Sgt. Buxton-Carr noting there has been an expansion of some of the duties the community traditionally needed from local police.

“A piece of it is enforcing behaviours that until 12 months ago were legal, and hopefully 12 months from now will be legal again,” he said in reference to public health restrictions such as the ban on indoor gatherings and parties.

“The other piece of that is the long-term effects of the pandemic and the stress and apprehension many people have … we’re making sure we can communicate with people and understanding how they are feeling about that.”

According to Statistics Canada, violent crimes in Banff were up to 194 in 2019, compared to 125 in 2018, 147 in 2017, 158 in 2016 and 146 in 2015. Data for 2020 is not yet available.

Total criminal code violations, excluding traffic offences, were 995 in 2019 – up 13 per cent from 2018 – but fewer than the 1,103 violations in 2016 and 1,085 offences in 2015.

Over the years, the RCMP have worked hard to reduce late-night nuisance crime in town, such as rowdy and drunken behaviour on the streets after bars or nightclubs close.

“Our more violent crimes – the assaults, harassments, etcetera – haven’t really gone down,” said Buxton-Carr.

“The more significant offences require a lot more investigation.”

Residents can email feedback to the Banff RCMP at [email protected]. and/or provide input to the survey on the Town of Banff’s website at banffviewpoints.ca/RCMP. All submissions will be confidential.

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