Acting C.O. Corporal Jeremy Houle of the Killam RCMP Detachment recently announced a new initiative called Coffee with the Cops.
He says, “Coffee with the Cops provides a casual atmosphere to break down barriers and build trust between police officers and the citizens we serve.
“It is an opportunity to discuss policing issues in the community and discover ways to reduce crime and keep the community safe.”
Houle says community policing has long been considered a framework for establishing trust between the community and the police.
“As communities and policing evolves it is important to maintain ongoing relationships between police and the public. It promotes strategies that support the use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.”
Houle says in addition to the new initiative, the Killam Detachment will also host two town halls throughout the year.
He says, “Coffee with the Cops provides an additional opportunity to those who may not be able to make it to the town halls.
Members of the Killam RCMP Detachment want to be continually engaged with everybody throughout the County.”
The first edition was scheduled for Alliance, and another for Tuesday, April 2, at the Sedgewick Library.
Houle thought libraries would be a good place to hold the discussions, and contacted all the libraries in the region to choose dates and times for each.
Houle plans to attend each event himself, as well as members on duty those days, depending on if they are out on calls or available. Coffee with the Cops will be held in Forestburg Library on April 9, Daysland Library on April 16, Hardisty Library on April 30, Amisk Library on May 7, Killam Library on May 15, Heisler Library on May 29, and June 5 at the Lougheed Public Library. All dates have a 1 p.m. start time.
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor