The Piikani Nation has made history by launching the first Alberta Citizens on Patrol Association (ACOPA) chapter on a First Nation.
Eight Piikani members are acting as the eyes and ears of their community in an effort to enhance safety and reduce crime.
“We’ll just drive around the community during the day or night, take back alleys depending on the community situation,” said Kimberly Hurst, president of the Piikani ACOPA.
“We’ll go through businesses, through parking lots and check to see if there is something we may feel is out of place or if there’s anything we feel we need to report.”
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The volunteer-based group began patrolling the nation along with Piikani RCMP in October.
Trained members take part in community patrols in pairs, using their own vehicles, looking for suspicious activity to report to RCMP.
“It’s important for all of us to take ownership of our community and to be assisting whatever law enforcement agency it is that we’re working with,” said Hurst.
“If we didn’t have the backing of the RCMP, this initiative wouldn’t be possible.”
The initiative was launched by Staff Sgt Vince Bacon, Piikani Nation detachment commander, after discussions with colleagues in the neighbouring towns of Pincher Creek and Fort Macleod who utilize ACOPA.
“It’s very important for smaller communities to have that sense of working together, and it’s also very good to work on a reconciliation effort,” said Bacon.
The added level of security comes at a crucial time for the nation of 2,500.
Bacon says the ongoing opioid crisis continues to impact members, and has led to a rise in crime associated with drugs, tying up RCMP resources.
He says the new volunteers bring a deep knowledge of their community, helping to identify unusual or criminal activity more effectively.
“I’ve been here for two-and-a-half years and I do have a good understanding of the community, but having a volunteer who grew up and is born and raised in Piikani – they know all the little corners, so they are very useful when it comes to times to locate certain individuals or keep an eye on certain areas of the nation,” Bacon explained.
He says the initiative is another step to building up the trust and relationships between the community and 12 officers stationed on the nation.
“Altogether, we’re 2,500 people, and if we work together, we’re 2,500 officers, so we’re just a bigger team looking out for one another,” said Bacon.
There are currently 44 ACOPA chapters in the province, with Piikani being the latest addition.
Bacon has been speaking with RCMP detachments throughout Alberta about implementing ACOPA chapters on other First Nations, and the benefits he’s already seeing with the implementation.
Efforts to recruit more volunteers and secure funding for the program are ongoing, with the group receiving a grant to purchase brochures, jackets and shirts.
While still fairly new, Hurst says the community has been welcoming to the new initiative.
She says the initiative is a way for members to give back to the community while breaking down barriers and creating lasting change.
“I really hope that the members of the community that are a part of this see the importance and value,” she said.
“They’re leaders now within the province, and are showing people that it doesn’t matter where you’re located or who you are, that you can do this, and that one person can make a difference.”
