MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Mountain View County officials would like to see the RCMP provide enhanced officer patrols in the West Country wilderness area along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains during summer long weekends.
During the recent regularly scheduled council meeting, Coun. Peggy Johnson said extra policing in the popular camping area would be helpful for all concerned.
“My concern is that it is kind of the wild west out there when you have about 20,000 extra people on the landscape and some people need to be reminded that even through it is a playground, they still need to live with the rules,” said Johnson, who is the Division 6 councillor.
“My question is whether given the huge influx of campers that we have to the West Country, if we could request extra help for the all the long weekends through the summer, starting with the May long weekend.”
Reeve Angela Aalbers says she has spoken to elected officials in Sundre, Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County about making a joint request for more RCMP policing in the West Country during long weekends.
“I think that is going to be a real help to the detachments,” said Aalbers. “Speaking to the elected officials they are very concerned that a lot of the (policing) resources have to be moved to the western location and kind of move from the towns.”
Council carried a motion reading: “That council direct administration to request the RCMP for extra officers on ground for all long weekends starting on the May long weekend for the West Country in conjunction with the Town of Sundre, Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County.”
