The Okotoks RCMP have seen an increase in crime with the downturn in the economy.

The Okotoks detachment is currently made up of 22 members and Sgt. Sukh Randhawa says there is a program the public can be part of that will help the RCMP when it comes to being out in the community.

"The Citizens on Patrol Program has around 20 members at the moment, with their primary task being a second pair of eyes in the community for the RCMP, and will begin to patrol the community in early February," Randhawa says.

The program will partner members up and have them drive around in their own vehicles.

If members see suspicious activity while patrolling they are to call it back to the RCMP so a car can check out the situation.

"The program will help the RCMP in terms of being out there in the community and communicating with the members that are working that night in terms of these are the activities that are taking place, and sometimes these activities are not reported," Randhawa says.

Randhawa says if residents want to be a part of the program, their is an application process they will have to go through.

"They can come to the Okotoks detachment and pick up an application, fill out the basic information and go through a criminal record check that is done for free at the Okotoks detachment, and once they have passed the criminal record check, one of the COP board members will contact the applicant."

When the applicant speaks to the COP board member, they will be told the program and training expectations.

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