INNISFAIL - For Teresa Cunningham it’s all about helping others.
She is the president of the Penhold Citizens On Patrol and she was in Innisfail on May 9 to help the Innisfail RCMP with community engagement, and especially in the days ahead from May 11 to May 17 as that is National Police Week across the country.
Cunningham was also supporting and partnering with the Innisfail Citizens On Patrol to host the Innisfail and Penhold Citizens On Patrol BBQ on May 9 that was held in the parking lot of the Innisfail RCMP detachment from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There were free soft drinks, lots of barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, and a good friendly atmosphere, even if there was a bit of a windy chill.
“We're very community minded, both of our citizens on patrol groups. We do partner with the RCMP, and we just wanted to celebrate that today,” said Cunningham, who is also vice-president of the Alberta Citizens On Patrol Association, and a Penhold town councillor.
It was a day of meeting the citizens of both Innisfail and Penhold and letting them know what the Citizens On Patrol is doing in their communities, and how everyone can work together to reduce crime.
“We're doing fairly good. We've got quite a bit of patrols underway. People are noticing us,” said Izetta Sellors, president of the Innisfail Citizens On Patrol, adding her organization, which began in town about 18 months ago, now has 10 volunteers. “We've got a great core group, so we're welcoming anybody to come join us, and same as the Penhold group as they're also looking for volunteers.
“You can also join both teams if you'd like.”
Cunningham noted both citizens on patrol groups share the same RCMP detachment and partnering with Innisfail is the “natural thing to do.
“We have the same objectives,” said Cunningham, noting the barbecue is the second event Penhold and Innisfail citizens on patrol groups have partnered on.
The prior event was an impaired and distracted driving program in Penhold that was held for the young.
“And Innisfail came and assisted with that, and we thought that we would be able to kick off with the National Police Week barbecue and partner on that as well,” said Cunningham.
Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Ian Ihme saluted both Citizens On Patrol groups, noting they organized and found the sponsors to put on the free community barbecue.
He was also pleased the event ran just before National Police Week, which will put the spotlight on policing and crime prevention.
Ihme said National Police Week is “really about community relations” in the community.
“For me and the attachment, that's always been a big thing, making sure we're getting out, talking to people, being at events, being visible, being approachable, and just really being part of the community,” said Ihme. “And so, that's really always been the focus for us, and it will continue to be in the future.”
As for his own future, Ihme has been the Innisfail detachment commander now for just over three years.
This coming November he will have been with the RCMP for 24 years, and he could retire if he wanted to.
“I have no plans of retiring,” said Ihme. “I imagine I would still be here (Innisfail) for another five years. I have no intention of leaving.”
