RCMP discuss rural crime at SARM convention in Saskatoon
Delegates at a Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) convention in Saskatoon took the opportunity to question the RCMP’s staffing levels and response times during a presentation Thursday morning.
RCMP Cpl. Mel Zurevinsky addressed hundreds or representatives from rural municipalities across the province at TCU Place. His presentation focused on Everbridge, a smartphone app that links crime watch groups directly with police, allowing for real-time reporting of suspicious activity, including text, photos and GPS locations.
“What this What’sApp does, and what Everbridge will give is an anonymity to what you’re reporting. And people will get more confidence in reporting, maybe, things which they didn’t feel were suspicious in the past,” he said.
Zurevinsky said 124 rural municipalities now either have crime watch groups, or are setting them up. He said he hoped to see them in all 297 rural municipalities Saskatchewan.