Curtis Zablocki is deputy commissioner of the RCMP.
The RCMP last week launched an initiative designed to reduce crime in Alberta communities.
The Community Safety and Well-being Branch will target root causes of crime and create integrated crisis teams to improve response.
“Reducing crime doesn’t necessarily come as a result of arresting and incarcerating people,” Alberta RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said, “Many Albertans have seen first-hand that this approach alone doesn’t work.”
“Repeat offenders are often released soon after arrest, returning to the very communities they have been committing crimes in.”
“There are root causes to some of this behaviour, and while there are no simple solutions to address them all, there are many solutions we can work towards that will mean tangible, positive impacts to community safety.”
Zablocki and other officials announced the new initiative during a news conference on Thursday.
The Community Safety and Well-being Branch integrates the RCMP with other agencies including Alberta Health Services and community members.
“Often people facing addictions, mental health challenges and those who live without adequate housing are among offenders who land in a cycle of reoffending,” Zablocki said.
“While accountability for criminal actions must occur, communities don’t see long-lasting crime reduction without recognizing that the social issues sometimes causing habitual offending are at the root of the issue.”
“Establishing this branch integrates our operations and outreach, leveraging our partnerships with health care professionals, social agencies and other law enforcement agencies, not just in the office but on the front lines — working shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners.”
The Community Safety and Well-being Branch will operate under four pillars:
- Crime reduction.
- Community outreach.
- Analytics and intelligence.
- Social engagement.
“Our goal is not only crime reduction, but to actually break the cycle of criminality in order to prevent further harm to Albertans,” said Chief Superintendent Peter Tewfik, who is officer in charge of the Community Safety and Well-being Branch.
“The branch will work directly with victims, offenders, and communities impacted by crime.”
The Data 2 Action and Regional Police and Crisis Teams are two examples of initiatives that illustrate our focus on crime reduction and community outreach.
Data 2 Action is a performance management framework that turns data and intelligence into actionable tasks aimed at reducing crime.
Designed to enhance community safety, the initiative brings together RCMP support services, provincial and federal government agencies, law enforcement partners, and local community organizations to address areas in the province with the highest rates of property and violent crimes.
Focusing on joint data and intelligence, Data 2 Action determines which people, places, and crime types are impacting Alberta’s most vulnerable communities.
Regional Police and Crisis Teams is a collaboration between the RCMP and Alberta Health Services in which officers and mental health professionals work together in responding to mental health calls for service.
Responding to these calls with mental health professionals provides clinical expertise that benefits the individual in crisis and connects them to the appropriate resources for follow-up mental health treatment.
The Community Safety and Well-being Branch will expand the RCMP’s partnership with Alberta Health Services and municipalities.
