Williams Lake RCMP Insp. Milo MacDonald considers city council’s swift decision this week to upgrade video surveillance cameras around the city welcomed news.
“It’s a valuable initiative and it means a lot to us in our ability to solve crimes,” MacDonald said of the camera upgrades.
Although he doesn’t believe that current laws exist to support council’s controversial bid to trace criminals using GPS tracking chips, he does appreciate their support and has a plan of his own to reduce crime here.
“For me, there’s a two-pronged approach.”
MacDonald said he is working to implement a government-funded pilot project which is showing great success in other communities.
That program will see various agencies pull together to deal with high risk individuals on a case-by-case basis.
“It is not reinventing the wheel but it is very effective. The idea is to get the cases while they are acute and manage them collaboratively,” he said, adding the program should be up and running by the fall.
Enforcement, MacDonald said, is the other key aspect of crime reduction. Already police presence has been increased in and around the park.
He is also confident his officers will identify the persons responsible in Monday’s robbery.
MacDonald encourages those interested in getting involved to volunteer with community policing or any of the many community groups such as the Salvation Army or the Boys and Girls Club.
“There is lots of good work to be done.”
Biking advocate Mark Savard welcomes the city’s decision to finance upgrades to city video surveillance systems in and around the lakecity and the ongoing efforts of police.
He is also working from his end to make a positive impact following the disturbing daytime park robbery.
“From my heart, I would really like to try to turn a negative into a positive.”
With the money that has been pouring in for the teen victim, and with the blessing of those who have donated, Savard hopes to use any leftover money to launch a corporate challenge.
His hope is that businesses will match the public donations in order to create a new feature in the skateboard park.
“Users of the park have been asking for upgrades for the last 20 years but there’s never been any money,” Savard said.
Savard is also spearheading a meeting amongst community stakeholders to host a workshop for teens on how to react if faced with a crime.
He also plans to explore tech options to improve teen safety, such as a phone app which can act as a panic button in an emergency.
“We need to take back our community so that we can all live healthy lifestyles safely,” he said.
“I want the kids to be safe when they are out in the world enjoying life.”
Savard said he is also willing to donate the use of bikes out of his own fleet so community policing volunteers can be out on patrol.
“Whatever it takes, I’m willing to do.”
So far more than $1,700 in donations have been dropped off at Red Shred’s Bike and Board Shed in support of the teenage victim.