East Parkland County

Parkland County Enforcement Officers often target specific locations when doing Community Patrols or targeted enforcement, such as speeding. One such recent 'Speeding' file has been concluded after several weeks of diligent work by our Officers.

Parkland Drive (west of Stony Plain) was the location of interest for this multi-week operation. Upon conclusion of the enforcement blitz, violations were tallied up.

The numbers stacked up as follows:

• 21 violation tickets issued
• 18 speeding violations (including a "highflyer". See below post entitled, "Speeding?, ...You'll Get Caught!")
• Two stop sign violations
• One violation for expired driver's license

Enforcement Services is continually monitoring and enforcing various targeted locations throughout Parkland County where higher-than-usual violations are noticed and reported. If you are aware of such locations of interest, please contact Enforcement Services(External link).

Building Safer Communities...Together.

Last night was an informative and fun evening!

Fallis Community Association coordinated a community presentation by local RCMP (Sgt. Jeff Sutherland) and Parkland County Peace Officer (Ryan Berezanski). Information was presented regarding RCMP crime trends and a community update which was followed by a CPTED presentation (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) and an information session discussing the YourParkland.ca community interaction website available to all Parkland residents. The presentations were concluded with a Question and Answer period, addressing thoughts and concerns from the many residents in attendance.

Similar presentations and community interaction events are available to all communities in Parkland County. We love to meet our residents and offer information and insights on various topic areas including Suspicious Activity in your area, CPTED, OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) use, Responsible Pet Ownership, Traffic and Safety concerns, etc.

To arrange for a presentation in your community, simply contact us at ParklandCounty.com(External link).

Building Safer Communities...Together.

Here are some key examples:

• Unfamiliar Vehicles: Vehicles that are parked in unusual locations or linger for extended periods, or move slowly through neighborhoods
• Strangers Loitering: Individuals who are hanging around without a clear purpose, especially near homes or businesses
• Door-to-Door Solicitation: People going door-to-door, particularly if they go to the back of a residence or business
• Unusual Behavior: People acting strangely, such as asking about security measures or trying to enter buildings or cars without permission
• Unattended Items: Bags or packages left unattended in public places
• Vandalism: Graffiti or damage to property that appears to be recent
• Unkempt and Unsightly Properties: Properties that are ill-maintained, and unsightly, possibly attracting criminal behaviour
• Eliciting Information: Asking detailed questions about a facility’s operations, security, or personnel beyond normal curiosity

Our team of Peace Officers at Parkland County Enforcement Services are very family oriented and enjoy engaging with the children in our communities whenever we have the opportunity. An example of this comes through the several K-to-9 schools in the county. Liaising with the school contacts (and based around officer availability), a Peace Officer will schedule a session with a specific class to share information regarding various topics. Peace officers can cover a variety of engaging and educational topics when presenting to school kids.

Here are some popular topics:

1. Safety Awareness: Teaching kids how to stay safe in different situations, such as crossing the street, staying with a buddy and recognizing safe places and people.
2. Emergency Preparedness: How to react in emergencies, including dialing 911, knowing exits, and basic first aid.
3. Animal Safety, Education and Awareness: Interacting with animals and understanding their behaviours
4. Anti-Bullying: Discussing the importance of kindness, recognizing bullying, and how to report it.
5. Internet Safety: Educating kids on safe internet practices, including the dangers of sharing personal information online.
6. Bicycle and OHV Safety: The "Do's and Don'ts" when out riding.
7. Drug Awareness: Information on the dangers of drugs and alcohol as well as making healthy choices.
8. Peace Officer Introduction: Basic understanding of laws, rights, and the role of peace officers in the community.
9. Stranger Danger: Teaching kids how to recognize and react to strangers.
10. Respect and Responsibility: Encouraging respectful behavior and understanding the consequences of actions.

The lights, sirens and PA loudspeaker in the patrol vehicles always seem to be a big hit as well! The kids invariably love to interact with the officers also, and have many great questions and comments. These interactions not only educate children, but also help build positive relationships between Peace Officers and the community.

Watch for an upcoming on-line training session regarding "Bullying" coming early in the new year!

During the early evening of November 18, a Parkland County Peace Officer was patrolling east of RR20, on Parkland Drive. A dark coloured vehicle came speeding past. The Officer immediately determined the vehicle to be travelling far in excess of the posted speed limit of 70km/hr. The vehicle was in fact travelling at 147 km/hr, which is 77 km/hr over the maximum speed limit.

This is more than double the speed limit!

The Ford Mustang was being driven in this well-known high traffic area (and after dark when visibility is also typically less than ideal). The male driver was in his early 20's. He received (1) a mandatory court appearance scheduled for early in the new year, and (2) hopefully a new appreciation for obeying the speed limit signs.

There are a few notable locations throughout Parkland County that seem to attract drivers wanting to exceed the posted speed limits. Parkland Officers, and especially the designated Traffic Enforcement detail, remain diligent and watchful for these speeders. Speed limits are there for a reason, ...for the safety of all of us.

On July 13, 2024, Parkland County Enforcement Services received information regarding a suspicious quad on county reserve land. Upon investigation, Peace Officers determined the quad had been reported stolen. The investigation along with the quad were transferred to Parkland RCMP.

On June 29th Parkland County Enforcement Services Peace Officers were conducting traffic operations on Rge Rd 274 North of Hwy 16 when they encountered a speeding pickup truck travelling 104km/h in the posted 80km/h zone.

Throughout the investigation it was determined that the driver of the speeding vehicle had outstanding warrants. The driver was arrested and issued a violation ticket for speeding.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach to crime prevention that uses urban and architectural design and the management of built and natural environments.

CPTED strategies aim to reduce victimization, deter offender decisions that precede criminal acts, and build a sense of community among inhabitants so they can gain territorial control of areas, reduce crime, and minimize fear of crime.

CPTED is pronounced ‘sep-ted’ and it is also known around the world as Designing Out Crime, defensible space, and other similar terms.

Parkland County Enforcement Services provides CPTED property assessments at no cost to the property owner. Call our complaint line and request your own assessment at 780-968-8400.

In the spring of 2023 Parkland County Enforcement Services received a number of complaints regarding suspicious and/or potential scams related to paving services and contracts.

We are reminding residents to exercise diligence and caution when retaining contractor services. Keep the following tips in mind to avoid falling victim to a scam:

• Ask for names of previous customers and verify that they were satisfied with the work.
• Research the company through the Better Business Bureau in Alberta, the Consumer Investigations Unit, your local Rural Crime Watch, or on social media.
• Obtain a written quote that includes the full business name, address, phone number, GST number, as well as provincial and municipal license numbers, if applicable.
• Quotes should specify the quantity and quality of materials being offered. Be skeptical if contractors decline to provide this information.
• Seek estimates from reputable companies to compare costs.
• Do not agree to a contract if you feel pressured or if the contractor refuses to take "no" for an answer.
• Be leery of unsolicited offers. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

The Alberta RCMP is working together with the Alberta Consumer Investigation Unit (CIU) to counter this trend. For more information, see the Service Alberta's Dealing with Door-to-Door Sales tip sheet(External link). If you, or anyone you know, suspect a paving-contractor scam, please report it to your local RCMP detachment:

Parkland - 825-220-7267 - Non-emergency

Drayton valley - 780-542-4456 - Non-emergency

Evansburg - 780-727-4446 - Non-emergency