RCMP Sgt. Randy Dixon updates Pincher Creek's Town Council

Sgt. Randy Dixon
T. Lucas file photo

Chris Davis

Pincher Creek RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Randy Dixon made a report to Town Council on Monday, March 10.

Sgt. Dixon provided council with comparative statistics and charts.  First he explained the RCMP's reporting procedure.  "Administration does it monthly, every three months, and a yearly report for me," he said. According to Sgt. Dixon this information is prepared by an RCMP Strategic Research Analyst. "She sent me three very interesting reports that I sent over here."


"She breaks down criminal statistics and calls for service in the Town of Pincher Creek and the MD."

Some of the reports presented included year to date statistical comparisons, or compare the same time period (year month, or quarter). They cover a number of aspects of policing such as homicide, robbery, assault, break and enter, theft, vandalism, fraud, drug and alcohol offences, property damage, and traffic offenses.

 "They use that as a crime solved. It's not always a charge rate, because usually it's the same person," he said,  giving the example of multiple car or house break ins with one perpetrator.

"The hardest things for us to clear are break and enters, and theft from vehicles," Dixon explained, saying that was due to the often transient nature of the perpetrators. He said that criminals will often hit a community and move on.  "Other crimes, crimes against people or assaults, domestics, we have almost 100%."

"That's kind of how our crime stats work for clearance rates. Then we look at statistics," he continued, saying it was often important to see if they were up or down from the previous year.

"We look at the percentage of crimes, and whether it goes down, or up from the year before. If it goes up, it's not good, because we're providing more service to the people to try to solve these crimes. Same with break and enters. If they come down, fortunately we are doing patrols, or the weather is too cold."

"I look at Disturbing the Peace, and it's a very good one in my opinion, because Disturbing the Peace can be alcohol offenses, yelling and screaming, anything that is going to affect the community around your house. We get that to go down, which we did in December and January, which is good."

Sgt. Dixon said Drug Enforcement was definitely on the RCMP radar in the Pincher Creek area.  "That is when I look for the percentage to go up, because those are all self generated. That is when the guys are out there actually checking people, checking for drugs, trying to get a warrant. so I look for the percentages to go up."  According to the statistics he provided, drug enforcement for possession was up 55.6% in 2013 compared to 2012 and enforcement for trafficking was down 38.5%.

Sgt. Dixon said an important part of the process was trying to understand why  percentages have changed. Giving the example of drug enforcement going down in January he said "I take a look right away, and try to figure out 'why did it go down?' Are guys sitting in the office, are they not doing anything, or have they been tasked with other things?" Dixon cited one example, where false alarms went up 1,500% in a specific comparable time period, requiring a lot of staff time.

"I try to encourage the members to go out and do school talks, and be part of the community. That's something that during the day, I am there, and I can do."  He said RCMP members working nights also had an opportunity to boost community relations by talking with different people while on patrols.

"Now one of my goals is to push more with the schools and school zones during normal weather, and patrols downtown."

Sgt. Dixon told council that there are plans in place to have the RCMP Musical Ride come to Pincher Creek this year, and a Police/ Emergency Services Ball is planned for October 3, 2014.  Lethbridge rock and roll dance band The Chevelles are scheduled to perform at that event, which will be a fundraiser for various local charities.