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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

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Response times ‘faster than ever’ leading to quicker deployment of Alberta RCMP

Oct 28, 2024 | 4:29 PM

Response times from operational communications centres (OCCs) in Alberta are improving.

OCCs house critical staff who help RCMP to respond to 911 calls, 365 days a year. The Alberta Operational Communications Centres have 151 positions, with 78 in Edmonton and 73 in Red Deer.

The two OCCs work as one unit out of two buildings.

According to Alberta RCMP, response time as faster than ever, with 97 per cent of calls being answered in under two minutes, and 87 per cent being answered in under one minute.

“Ensuring officers respond to emergency calls rapidly is one of the Alberta RCMP’s top priorities, and a quick response by the OCC is the first step in the process,” says Fraser Logan, Alberta RCMP media relations.

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“After receiving and evaluating each call, officers are dispatched based on the seriousness of the report. Reports of crime where there is an immediate threat to life and safety will be prioritized over crime that is discovered after it’s been committed and does not pose an immediate threat to public safety.”

Alberta RCMP are responsible for policing 99 per cent of the Alberta landscape, covering over 660,000 square kilometres, the agency points out.

According to RCMP, in remote, rural regions, the average response time of police is only 21.2 minutes; 56.6 per cent of calls are responded to within 20 minutes, with 15.4 per cent of high priority calls being responded to in approximately five minutes.

“By triaging calls, and coordinating the deployment of officers across the province, the Alberta RCMP ensures that the officers closest to an emergency are responding, regardless of the detachment they belong to or the unit they are assigned to,” adds Logan.

“There are several ways that the public can help their Alberta RCMP continue to reduce response times and keep their communities safe. Whether it is an emergency or not, report all crime in your community. Having a clear picture of crime across the province helps ensure the RCMP is allocating resources appropriately.”

Albertans can report non-emergency crimes online on the RCMP webpage. For emergencies, always call 911.

Meantime, the OCCs in Red Deer and Edmonton are accepting applications for employment. More details are in the Facebook post below.