Woodlands County residents are invited to share their input on 2026-2027 policing priorities for the region.
Input will inform the RCMP’s Community Policing Plans for the area.
An online survey is available until March 9. You can also call 780-778-8400 for more information.
Meanwhile, Woodlands County council recently received the 2025 Q3 Crime Statistics Report from the Whitecourt RCMP.
According to the report, break and enters, motor vehicle thefts, theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen goods all increased in frequency compared to the same period in 2024.
From October to December in 2025, 11 break-ins were reported, compared to four in the same period in 2024. That’s a 175 per cent jump from the previous year, and an 83 per cent jump compared to 2021.
Nine vehicles were stolen, up from six in 2024. Seven incidents of theft over $5,000 were reported in Q3 of 2025, while only one was reported in Q3 of 2024. Thefts under $5,000, on the other hand, saw eight counts, a 27 per cent drop from 11 in 2024.
Counts of possession of stolen goods increased by 150 per cent to 10, compared to four counts in 2024.
The Whitecourt RCMP also noted that the Police Funding Model (PFM) has contributed to operations by supporting the addition of 279 police officers, 136 of which went directly to detachments, along with 242 civilian staff, including 77 supporting detachment operations. It has also helped the RCMP expand its drone program, enhance investigative capacity and add a third specialized Emergency Response Team.
