The most common topic the Moose Jaw Police Service’s community presence and crime prevention team discusses with residents while on patrol is scams and protecting oneself from fraudsters.
One of the team’s main priorities is to engage in regular foot and bike patrols throughout the community — including the downtown — so it can interact with business owners, tourists and residents and help deter unlawful activity like drug use in Crescent Park, explained Const. Jayme Hoffman, a bike patrol officer.
“When we’re doing that, people often approach us and they ask questions, or they want to make a report. And that’s important because sometimes people aren’t comfortable calling the police station or aren’t comfortable going into the police station to make a report,” she said during the board of police commissioners’ June meeting.
“So foot patrols and bike patrols are good.”
Sometimes people don’t want to bother the police since they think the problem is minor and not important enough to warrant a call, said Staff Sgt. Taylor Elder, who oversees the community presence and crime prevention team.
However, when cops are on the street, residents approach to ask for advice on how to handle a situation, he continued. These interactions help build bridges in the community.
Hoffman agreed, saying the goal of bike and foot patrol officers is to be visible, approachable and to make people feel safe. One way police do that is by answering questions, with the most common one focusing on scams. She noted that while seniors and new immigrants are the most vulnerable to fraud, everyone can become a victim.
Fraud can occur through emails, the phone, social media, physical mail and in-person. The most common frauds are cheque scams, supposed lottery wins, alleged grandchildren in financial need, security breaches, requests for gift cards or cryptocurrencies and Canada Revenue Agency scams.
“Just remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is … ,” Hoffman said. “If you don’t want to call us, ask a friend. Don’t feel shame or fear asking someone else’s opinions. It happens more often than you think.”
To protect themselves, people should never give out personal information, banking information, or passwords, and they should check their bank statements regularly for suspicious transactions. They should also invest in caller ID to know whether to call back an unknown number.
Elder urged residents to contact police if they are ever doubtful about calls. He added that the community presence and crime prevention team has moved out of police headquarters and across the street into the former Times-Herald building.
Graffiti
Police Chief Rick Bourassa spoke briefly about the police service’s efforts to combat, prevent and remove graffiti throughout the community.
He explained that the organization became partners in 2014 with Prairie South School Division’s Project 104 High School Arts Collective’s anti-graffiti team. The group creates large murals that are designed to cover buildings where there is regular vandalism.
So far, the students have produced 15 large artworks — they and police installed a new 150-foot mural recently behind Veroba’s Restaurant on Fairford Street West — and vandals have damaged only one, the chief added. The lieutenant governor has also recognized the group for its efforts with an award.
The next police board meeting is Thursday, July 6, at 2 p.m. at the Cultural Centre.
