(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

annual police report

Red Deer’s Social Diversion Team having noticeable impact

Apr 27, 2021 | 6:00 AM

The City of Red Deer’s new Social Diversion Team (SDT) is seeing early success.

City council heard an update on that initiative and other Annual Policing Plan objectives from Red Deer RCMP Superintendent Gerald Grobmeier at their Monday meeting.

The Social Diversion Team launched this past winter. It’s main goal is to provide an integrated community response to non-emergency situations, thereby reducing the amount of time RCMP must respond to such calls.

People in the city who see something can call 2-1-1 for help from the team.

According to Grobmeier, February saw the Social Diversion Team respond to 51 calls, while there were another 18 referrals that could not be transferred to the Social Diversion Team due to capacity. Separately, the Social Diversion Team responded to an additional 72 calls which came from other sources such as community agencies, businesses, and individuals who called the team through 2-1-1.

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In March, the SDT responded to 76 calls and there were an additional three referrals that could not be transferred to the Social Diversion Team due to capacity. Separately, the Social Diversion Team addressed an additional 95 calls which came from other sources such as community agencies, businesses, and individuals who called the team through 2-1-1.

“We are very proud of the early success that is evident as a result of the efforts of the new Social Diversion Team,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “Our trained professionals are connecting vulnerable individuals with necessary social services while also playing an important role in reducing strain on police and emergency response in our community.”

Meantime, RCMP continue to be focused on areas such as crime prevention, information sessions with community partners such as a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) seminar with local clinic doctors, and responding to calls related to the pandemic.

For the 2020-21 fiscal year, there were 147 calls for service to RCMP related to COVID-19, with 22 violations notices being given.

“The RCMP remains committed to being responsive to the needs of our communities through this healthcare crisis” said Grobmeier. “Our approach is to engage and educate with a goal of gaining voluntary compliance, but we turn to enforcement when needed. Public safety is our top priority.”

Grobmeier also noted the City’s Community Assisted Policing Through Use of Recorded Evidence (CAPTURE) camera registry is now up to 281 participants.

The 529 Garage bike registry, online crime reporting and Pinpoint continue to be priorities as well.

“Reporting online is a convenient way for citizens to report minor crime. These reports assist us in crime analysis, aids us in establishing trends and patterns, and ultimately leads our investigators to the chronic offenders,” said Grobmeier. “Ultimately, we want all crime – no matter how small – reported.”

RCMP will be making quarterly reports to city council going forward.