Alberta RCMP is building safer and stronger communities in 2025
The Alberta RCMP is encouraging residents to help build safer, stronger communities by joining a local citizen-led crime prevention group. While policing is a critical component of public safety, law enforcement alone cannot address the complex challenges some communities face. Citizen-led organizations are instrumental in fostering community bonds, providing valuable insights, and building partnerships that support community needs that enhance public safety.
“No one knows a community as well as it’s residents,” says Chief Superintendent Peter Tewfik, Officer in Charge of Community Safety and Well-being. “These volunteer-led organizations are our partners. They act as an extra set of eyes and ears in their neighbourhoods and work closely with their local Alberta RCMP detachments. They assist local police by promoting crime prevention education, reporting suspicious or criminal activity, and they strengthen relationships between the police and the community.”
There are several different organizations that operate across the province, fulfilling a variety of community roles. Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association (ACCPA) connects rural and urban communities, law enforcement, and agencies to promote crime prevention education and awareness to community members. Crime Stoppers empowers citizens to anonymously report crime, while Citizens on Patrol volunteers are trained by the RCMP to patrol local areas, make observations, and report suspicious or unlawful activities directly for follow-up. Similarly, Alberta Rural Crime Watch groups promote education and awareness, report suspicious activity, and help ensure property security on farmsteads and acreages.
“Everything begins in our communities,” says Jean Bota, Executive Director of ACCPA. “When strong, engaged citizen-led groups work alongside law enforcement, we harness tremendous citizen power to create meaningful change.”
To learn more about citizen-led groups in your area, visit:
https://www.ruralcrimewatch.ab.ca/associations/find-your-rcwa
Follow us on Facebook (@RCMPinAlberta) and X (@RCMPAlberta) all month long to learn more about citizen led groups in Alberta.