The Olds RCMP unveiled a new anti-drug initiative in the form of an anonymous local tip line during this weekend's Crime prevention trade show at the legion.
The Report a Drug House pilot project is a confidential, anonymous tip line that allows residents in Olds and the surrounding areas to call or text in concerns about potentially suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods.
Cpl. Shawn Morgan said that other jurisdictions have had success with this type of program and with a grant from the province, they decided to launch it here to see what results they got. While the program is similar in nature to Crime Stoppers, Morgan said that sometimes people are reluctant to go beyond their own community or they just like that local touch.
ìRather than going through a phone number to somebody somewhere,î he said, ìthis is going to be addressed by your local detachment.î
To be clear, Morgan says, there is no prevalent ëdrug house problem' in the area. But he said that people in that subculture are transient, and the police don't always know where they may have gone.
ìHere's the thing: the police are only as good as the community will allow them to be,î Morgan said. ìSo if people are seeing suspicious activity or what they deem to be a suspicious activity and we don't know about it, then we can't act on it.î
Morgan said he has overheard numerous times the concern that people think they might be a nuisance when they report something they feel is suspicious.
ìI think in small towns, sometimes (people) think they are troubling us and that they are overreacting,î he said. ìSo they don't report because they don't want to waste our time.î
Cpl. Michael Black said that since the police can't go to every house and watch it, the detachment needs the community to be involved and relay that information.
ìAt the end of the day this is another opportunity for the community of Olds and area to take some local ownership of things happening in their neighbourhood, aside from just talking about it on Facebook, or over coffee,î he said ìIf they are not willing to step up, talk to police in person, provide a statement, being willing to go to court, (then) this is an opportunity to provide that information anonymously for us to action something.î
The Report A Drug House confidential tip line can be reached by texting or leaving a voice mail, including as much detail as possible, at 403-586-TIPS (8477). The line is not actively answered, and calls are anonymous unless the caller requests a followup. It is monitored by detachment administration, and police in turn will respond as necessary. Things to look for related to drug activity in a residential neighbourhood include: an increase in traffic, and people coming and going; strong odours, large amounts of garbage; residents who don't appear to work but have expensive belongings; a decline in home maintenance and landscaping; high security measures; and secretive residents.
