A 28-year-old woman from Cold Lake, who reportedly had 50 interactions with police in the past 18 months, was among those arrested in a recent province-wide warrant roundup led by Alberta RCMP.
The woman, who faced a warrant for driving offences, had previously been investigated for robbery, assault with a weapon, drug trafficking, and firearms possession.
The operation part of a new RCMP-led initiative involving the Alberta RCMP, Calgary Police Service, and Alberta Sheriffs. The Joint Forces Operation (JFO) aimed to target top priority offenders in Alberta by creating a province-wide system for identifying and prioritizing individuals causing the most harm. According to the RCMP, the need for a unified model arose after it was discovered that law enforcement agencies were ranking offender differently, leading to disorganization.
Through an agreement created by the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, police forces across the province now share intelligence and statistical data. The matrix developed by their Strategic Analysis and Research Unit uses the Crime Severity Index, to assess individual offenders.
In November, the Joint Forces team conducted a warrant apprehension operation in Calgary and southern Alberta, arresting 88 individuals and executing 177 warrants. Province-wide, the RCMP executed 1,005 warrants involving 948 offenders.
The roundup included several high-profile arrests. A 55-year-old Calgary man with four warrants and over 42 charges related to property crimes, a 42-year-old Airdrie man with seven warrants and 27 charges, and a 34-year-old Calgary man with five warrants and 32 charges were among those apprehended.
RCMP hope the new approach will enhance public safety and streamline enforcement efforts across Alberta.
