Taber/Vauxhall RCMP responded to seven fatal collisions

By Heather Cameron
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During a recent M.D. of Taber Annual General Meeting, Sergeant Stewart Gemmill, detachment commander with the Taber/Vauxhall RCMP, provided a report on the detachment’s priorities, the goals the detachment set, and to also receive input from anyone in attendance about what they would like to see regarding the detachment’s priorities for 2025.

Sergeant Gemmill explained that the RCMP’s fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31 every year and that the detachment’s priorities are derived from consultations with local community councils, area residents, and members of the detachment.

Last year’s priorities were traffic safety through education and enforcement, community relations through visibility and participation in community events, and family violence investigations.

In terms of statistics, Sergeant Gemmill explained, the detachment wrote 524 violation tickets in the last fiscal year, which is up 14 from the previous year, and averaged out to 44 tickets monthly.

Last fiscal year, Sergeant Gemmill explained, the detachment also removed 18 impaired drivers off the road, which amounted to two less than the previous year.

“The ultimate goal of these efforts is to reduce high-risk driving behaviors on our roadways and to reduce collisions,” said Sergeant Gemmill. “Unfortunately, despite these efforts my detachment responded to seven fatal collisions within our detachment boundary last year. We’ll continue our efforts to reduce high-risk driving behaviors this coming year as well.”

The second priority Sergeant Gemmill mentioned was community relations through visibility and participation in community events.

“Last year we participated in 15 various community events, conducted presentations in local schools four times,” said Sergeant Gemmill. “My detachment members and myself make all efforts to attend and participate in community events. If you’re planning an event and you would like the RCMP to participate, please contact me at the detachment and I’ll see if we can accommodate your request.”

In terms of visibility through patrols, Sergeant Gemmill explained that each member of the detachment is required to log their patrols within the detachment area and stated that ‘patrol’ is considered a half hour of time spent within the community for the purpose of crime prevention. Last year, Barnwell had 332 patrols, Enchant had 127 patrols, Grassy Lake had 318 patrols, Hays had 134 patrols, and Vauxhall had 404 patrols.

The detachment’s third and final priority for last year, Sergeant Gemmill explained, was family violence investigations.

“Progress in this is hard to track with a huge factor being that most family violence goes unreported,” explained Sergeant Gemmill. “RCMP policy defines family violence as any disharmony between intimately involved people. Almost all cases where a person’s phoning the police about their partner, we treated as a family violence investigation.”

Last year, Sergeant Gemmill explained, the detachment responded to 41 complaints of family violence and laid charges in 10 instances where evidence of offence existed. This year, however, Sergeant Gemmill stated, the detachment began utilizing the Southern Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society to provide services to victims

“This change was mandated by the Province of Alberta but the people who have been hired have been working hard to make this a smooth transition,” explained Sergeant Gemmill. “In each instance of family violence, a referral is made for the victim to this victim service unit who makes all supports available to them.”

To conclude his presentation, Sergeant Gemmill invited those in attendance to provide feedback regarding the detachment’s priorities.