Alberta RCMP new Community Response Teams to target illegal drug crimes
Alberta RCMP work with partner agencies and launch new Community Response Teams to target illegal drug crimes.
EDMONTON - On April 10, 2025, the Alberta RCMP met with partners in law enforcement, health, and government to discuss concerns around the use of illegal opioids, including fentanyl, across the province. Targeting drug and fentanyl related crimes is part of the Alberta RCMP’s Data 2 Action (D2A) current focus.
D2A is an Alberta RCMP Crime Reduction Strategy that turns data and intelligence into actionable tasks focused on the four pillars of policing: targeted prevention, apprehension, suppression and offender management. The framework is designed to bring RCMP resources and supports alongside external partners across the province to tackle crime. D2A builds its intelligence by looking at where crime is being committed, what type of crime is impacting an area, and who is responsible for the most crime. By working together with local partners, and specialized agencies, the RCMP is able to develop strategies and coordinate resources to respond to the specific needs of communities.
As part of this new focus, the Alberta RCMP will be working with agencies from across Alberta including ALERT, Edmonton Police Services, Calgary Police Services, Canada Border Services Agency, Alberta Crown Prosecution Services, Alberta Probation, Alberta Sheriffs, Alberta Association of Community, Peace Officers, Canada Post, Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta, Recovery Alberta, the Canadian Center of Recovery Excellence, and the Government of Alberta.
“The Alberta RCMP is committed to doing all that we can to reduce the risk of opioids in our communities, but it isn’t just a police problem,” says Supt. Mike McCauley, Officer in Charge of the Alberta RCMP Crime Reduction Strategy. “Working with our partner agencies, we can develop a fulsome approach to address the underlying issues that lead to crime and the use of illegal fentanyl in our communities.”
Some of the initial steps that the RCMP has taken to address the concerns of fentanyl in include establishing a new Community Response Team, which is a quick response crime reduction team designed to be able to swiftly tackle a variety of issues in support of detachments and districts. Community Response Teams combine focused outreach with targeted enforcement to improve safety, reduce victimization and address social determinants contributing to the root causes of crime. They work with frontline members and local partners in the community to address the driving causes of crime in a comprehensive, data driven, and targeted approach. Their support reduces drug related crime, enhances public safety, and engages support to create wrap around services and programs.
Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28, 2025, there were 87 occurrences in which fentanyl was seized in Alberta RMCP jurisdiction. Approximately 1.4 kilograms of solid fentanyl and over 600 tablets were seized. In 36 of the 87 occurrences where fentanyl was seized, weapons were also seized ranging from knives and brass knuckles to rifles, shotguns, and 3D printed gun parts. While the most instances of fentanyl seizures were in larger communities such as Grande Prairie and Red Deer, there were seizures made in 34 detachments areas across the province.
“The misery that is caused to the people of Alberta due to illegal drugs and related crimes cannot be understated,” says S/Sgt. Luke Halvorson in Charge of Community Safety. “The Alberta RCMP is committed to using every resource available, whether it’s at the detachment level or involves specializes supports like our Community Response Teams, to target the root causes of crime and to meet the danger that Fentanyl and the illegal drug trade causes to the well-being of our community.”