Alberta Citizens On Patrol Association holds AGM in Cowley

ACOPA President Bev Salomons
T. Lucas/C. Davis photos except*

Toni Lucas

Alberta Citizens on Patrol Association (ACOPA) held their Annual General Meeting and related workshops in the Cowley Community Hall on Friday September 19 and Saturday, September 20.  The Pincher Creek District Citizens on Patrol Group hosted the event.

ACOPA AGM participants at Cowley Hall seen from remote helicopter used to reconstruct accident scenes
Cpl. Barry Red Iron photo

 Approximately 130 members representing 29 groups from all over Alberta were in attended.  ACOPA was formed to assist Citizens On Patrol (COP) groups throughout Alberta through support, development and sustainability of individual  COP groups, which consist of volunteers that work in conjunction with local law enforcement to deter crime by providing a presence in their community, patrolling, observing documenting and reporting to their law enforcement agencies.  Currently, there are approximately 60 active COP groups operating in Alberta.

RCMP Constable Doug Sokoloski 

The AGM members had a full agenda.  RCMP Constable Doug Sokoloski acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the Friday evening conference. There was a flag ceremony complete with a piper, followed by the singing of "O Canada".  Speakers included  MD of Pincher Creek Reeve Brian Hammond, the Town of Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg, Pincher Creek Detachment Commander Sgt. Randy Dixon, RCMP K Division Staff Sgt. Dean Hamm, and ACOPA President Bev Salomons.

 MD of Pincher Creek Reeve Brian Hammond

Anne Molnar photo

 

Town of Pincher Mayor Don Anderberg

Anne Molnar photo

There were two additional presentations:  One was by Henry Salomons on how to use and navigate the ACOPA website better, and one was by Fish and Wildlife District Officer John Clarke, who discussed the Karelian Bear Dog Program and wildlife issues.  The workshops continued into Saturday with information about forensic collision reconstruction, crime scene  and evidence collection, Search and Rescue avalanche dogs,  a presentation from Alberta Motor Association Program Coordinator Liam Crotty and then the AGM.

At the opening of the Friday meeting both Mayor Don Anderberg and Reeve Brian Hammond gave greetings from the area and acknowledged  the work done by the volunteers of COP locally and across the province. Both the Town and the MD contributed to helping with the costs associated with the event. Hammond said "As members of this community we are keenly aware of the busy activities of the volunteer group dedicated to the principals of Citizens on Patrol and your willingness to give of your time and energy to assist in making our communities safer and more secure."

Pincher Creek Detachment Commander Sgt. Randy Dixon

RCMP Sgt. Randy Dixon believes that the COP program helps the communities they are in.  "Anyone who can go into their community and get the support of people to come out and to assist,  the more eyes that are out there looking, doing stuff for us is an incredible resource.  You are doing an excellent job, and it is very much appreciated."

RCMP K Division Staff Sgt. Dean Hamm

RCMP Sgt. Dean Hamm talked about the importance of cooperation. "The mission of Alberta Citizens On Patrol is to build safer communities by mobilizing citizens throughout Alberta to participate in a community based crime prevention initiative in cooperation with their local law enforcement agencies."  He touched on what ACOPA, COP, and RCMP have in common.  "We all have the same goal.  Our communities are very important, and it's very important for us to have a sense of safety within our communities."

ACOPA President Bev Salomons expressed some of the issues that COP and ACOPA face.  "In the busy lives that we lead these days, it is becoming more difficult to find the time to go out patrolling and it is getting tougher to find people willing to join our dedicated members of COP."

Henry Salomons 

Henry Salomons walked everyone through some of the layers of the ACOPA website, from public access to sign in members, and administrative levels.  He explained how to navigate and use the website.  ACOPA Vice President Shane Smith said that the biggest challenge is getting the various member communities to use the website, and getting the public to recognize the information that it has.

BearSmart program coordinator Kristie Pool and Fish and Wildlife District Officer John Clarke

Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek Fish and Wildlife District Officer John Clarke (who last year was the recipient of a Leadership Award from the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General) talked about the Karelian Bear Dog Program, The Bear Smart Program, and other wildlife issues in the area.  Clarke has been busy the last few weeks with bear calls in the area.  He talked about one incident that happened recently in Hillcrest.  The dog had treed one bear, and as the officer was dealing with that situation the dog treed a second bear in the same yard.

On Saturday they had an equally busy agenda, with the morning consisting of Alberta Motor Association Program Coordinator Liam Crotty and Lethbridge RCMP Cpl. Jack Neri talking about crime scene  and evidence collection, followed by Lethbridge RCMP Forensic Collision Reconstructionist Cpl. Barry Red Iron (click here for another story featuring him) giving a remote helicopter demonstration and discussing his duties at traffic accidents.  Search and Rescue Avalanche Dogs were presented by Darrel Lewko.

Then the AGM was held, after which participants had the chance to relax and see the sights in our area with a bus tour. This tour not only showed areas of cultural interest but in addition showed some of the range that local COP members patrol.  After the trip there was time for visiting, door prizes and a silent auction then a supper  followed by comedienne 'The Hutterite Lady'.

Related link:  Alberta Citizens On Patrol Association