Wood Buffalo RCMP expands southern presence with satellite office

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Wood Buffalo RCMP have expanded their presence in the region’s southern hamlets with the opening of a satellite office on the Fort McMurray 468 First Nation.

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The partnership is part of an ongoing plan to strengthen a police presence in rural and Indigenous communities south of Fort McMurray. The satellite office was donated to police by the First Nation after it was pitched by the First Nation’s chief and council.

“It’s great to have that patrol cabin in that area so that we can have a presence, whether that’s coming into the community and talking to people or just being present,” said Chief Superintendent Mark Hancock in an interview.

“t’s better than driving around in your police car the whole time. At least now there’s a place where they can actually sit down with people.”

Wood Buffalo RCMP have more plans to expand their presence south of Fort McMurray. This has been a common request from residents and community leaders for years.

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A 2020 municipal report on needs in Indigenous and rural communities found leadership in Conklin and Janvier were the loudest proponents of a stronger police presence. Recent Statistics Canada data shows violent and non-violent crimes increased in Fort McMurray and surrounding rural areas between 2021 and 2023.

At a January 2020 town hall meeting at the Conklin Multiplex, residents told Wood Buffalo RCMP’s leadership they wanted more police officers and a permanent RCMP presence in their community. A common complaint was officers tasked with patrolling Conklin are based in Janvier, even though the multiplex was designed to support a permanent police presence.

Hancock says Mounties are looking at other locations in the southern hamlets for community offices. He could not go into details during the interview, but Hancock identified Conklin and the Janvier areas as communities being looked at by police.

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Officers are also being encouraged to join cultural and traditional events, attend community meetings, and maintain two Indigenous liaison officers. Hancock says the community involvement has been well received by residents and officers. He also says the region’s drug treatment court and restorative justice program has been a success.

“I want to make sure there’s always officers down there, and available to help people and to be part of the community,” said Hancock.

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vmcdermott@postmedia.com

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