RCMP analyze local crime statistics

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Vauxhall Advance

By Heather Cameron
Vauxhall Advance
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During the Town of Vauxhall Council Meeting that took place on September 16, Sergeant Stewart Gemmill from the Taber/Vauxhall RCMP detachment presented Council with the monthly report for August 2024.

Sergeant Gemmill reported that in August, the detachment responded to 250 calls for service and 16 of those were within the Town of Vauxhall while 6 were in Barnwell and 228 were elsewhere within the M.D. of Taber. 

In terms of impaired driving, Sergeant Gemmill explained, the detachment got four impaired drivers off the road in August.

“My members have been working hard in traffic operations,” said Sergeant Gemmill.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Gemmill explained, the detachment had six Criminal Code violations reported to it, and those were all within the M.D. of Taber. There were also 19 9-1-1 hang-ups, Sergeant Gemmill stated, and zero of those were within the Town of Vauxhall.

The detachment, Sergeant Gemmill stated, also did 31 criminal record checks and four fingerprint checks for the general public.

In terms of patrols done in August, Sergeant Gemmill stated, the detachment performed 25 patrols of Barnwell, 36 of Vauxhall, 10 of Enchant, 27 of Grassy Lake, 12 of Hays, 1 of the Forks Campground,1 of the Enchant Campground, 2 of the Chin Campground, 0 of the Hays Campground, and 0 of the Grassy Lake Campground.

As far as violation tickets go, Sergeant Gemmill stated, the detachment wrote 129 with six of those being within the Town of Vauxhall.

Sergeant Gemmill also briefly touched upon the Taber Provincial Crime Gauge, stating that person’s crimes are down 21 per cent, property crime is up 34 per cent, other Criminal Code is down 23 per cent, total Criminal Code Offenses have seen a five per cent increase, break and enter is up by four more instances, theft of motor vehicles is up by six more instances, and theft under $5,000 is up by two more instances.

In addition to the Crime Gauge, Sergeant Gemmill also spoke about how during the month of August, the detachment laid charges in four criminal investigations. Sergeant Gemmill also stated that there were four complaints of domestic violence made to the detachment within August and charges were laid where evidence of an offense existed while all available supports were provided to the victims.

During Cornfest, Sergeant Gemmill stated, Constable Turco also attended the Eagle Spirit Nest Community Association’s performance and teepee raising on behalf of the Taber/Vauxhall RCMP Detachment and made himself available to attendees and conversed with those in attendance.

Council wanted to know if there was a trend regarding property crime and Sergeant Gemmill responded that there was a foundational motivation, such as drugs or alcohol, connected to it and that the harder drugs are the bigger issue that are driving property crime. 

Ultimately, Council thanked Sergeant Gemmill for the RCMP report and a motion was made to accept his report, a motion which was carried.