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Alberta RCMP Establishes Safe Exchange Zones
Alberta RCMP Establishes Safe Exchange Zones
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
Alberta RCMP Eastern Alberta District Detachment has established safe exchange zones in 22 of its 27 detachments. Vegreville is one of the participating detachments in the initiative.
Vegreville RCMP Staff Sgt. Folk said, “These safe exchange zones will provide a safer place for citizens to safely meet while making sales, purchases and exchanges including custody and visitation arrangements.”
It was pointed out that the safe exchange zone is not specifically monitored by the detachment or surveillance camera, however, detachment officers are available to assist should there be a call for assistance, and any criminal activity would be subject to enforcement action.
According to Alberta RCMP Eastern Alberta District Detachment, “These zones will be clearly marked outside Eastern Alberta District Detachments as either parking stalls or a designated area. Residents need not contact the detachment to use the site. Simply advise the person that you are meeting that you would like to meet at the safe exchange zone outside the designated detachment.”
Vegreville town council was apprised of the initiative by Vegreville RCMP in a letter dated Jan. 22. It was briefly discussed during council’s regular meeting that evening. Councillor Rudyk, said, “Providing some preventative policing in a public setting like that is a good idea and I think even anecdotally, taking a look at the kinds of things put into the Blotter week by week might prevent some of those calls and provide a level of safety for people.”
Mayor MacPhee said, “I sure think it’ll alleviate some of the problems with people that may have bad intentions on their mind or having it captured on an RCMP camera might help a lot of these people stay out of our community.”
