This month, the Alberta RCMP marks OCCtober, a campaign in which we recognize the hard work of our Operational Communications Centres (OCC) and the impact that OCC operators have on the province of Alberta every day. Through their hard work and the development of new programs for crime reporting, the OCC's response time is faster than ever. Currently, 97% of all calls are answered in under 2 minutes, with 87% of calls being answered in under 1 minute.
OCC employees are a vital part of the RCMP. Day and night, 365 days a year, they are there to reassure the public when they call 911, direct officers during crisis situations, and help ensure the safety of Alberta's police by monitoring their movements while they are out in the field.
Ensuring officers respond to emergency calls rapidly is one of the Alberta RCMP's top priorities, and a quick response by the OCC is the first step in the process. After receiving and evaluating each call, officers are dispatched based on the seriousness of the report. Reports of crime where there is an immediate threat to life and safety will be prioritized over crime that is discovered after it's been committed and does not pose an immediate threat to public safety.
The Alberta RCMP is responsible for policing 99% of Alberta's landscape, covering over 660,000 square kilometers across the province. Despite the large jurisdiction, frequently in remote, rural regions, the average response time of the Alberta RCMP is only 21.20 minutes; 56.6% of calls are responded to within 20 minutes, with 15.4% of high priority calls being responded to in approximately five minutes. By triaging calls, and coordinating the deployment of officers across the province, the Alberta RCMP ensures that the officers closest to an emergency are responding, regardless of the detachment they belong to or the unit they are assigned to.
There are several ways that the public can help their Alberta RCMP continue to reduce response times and keep their communities safe. Whether it is an emergency or not, report all crime in your community. Having a clear picture of crime across the province helps ensure the RCMP is allocating resources appropriately. If you are reporting a non-emergency, please contact your local detachment in person or over the phone. You can also report non-emergency crimes online on the RCMP webpage. For emergencies, always call 911 and our OCC operators will be there to help.
Alberta RCMP Response Time Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_pk1rR4AVQ