2023 was an average year for the Altona Police Service.
    
According to Police Chief Dan Defer, officers handled a normal call volume with small increases in crimes against persons and crimes against property. 

"Nothing really stood out as being way out of line with what normal would be," said Defer. "There were increases in all categories but, to-be-expected increases...nothing that would be alarming." 

However, noted Defer, the department continues to see drug trafficking within the community.

"That just does not seem to be going away. Our enforcement efforts in that area continue, and will continue," he stressed. "That's one of the areas I wish we could say would disappear. That, unfortunately, is not a reality in the world we live in."

One of the most notable busts in 2023 was Project Hat Trick that saw 10 people charged following a joint operation between Altona, Morden and Winkler police services in January. In Defer's annual report, he noted this significant operation demonstrates the department's dedication to combatting drug trafficking. 

Economic crimes also increased in 2023. 

The most prevalent, added Defer, was the Grandparent Scam, the Romance Scam and the frauds indicating a person has won a sum of money but in order to claim it has to send the scammer processing fees. 

"We're not really seeing any new types of scams. It seems to be the same ones over and over, and a majority of them are not successful but we still do see people that sucked into these scams."

"We advertise it over and over, and I don't know how much more we can do to educate the public on the different scams over the internet or over the phone," added Defer.

Meantime, members of the Altona Police Service placed a special emphasis on community engagement over the last year. Officers participated in coffee meet-and-greets with various groups in the community, competed in a rousing basketball game against the Altona Panthers Special O team, and hosted the usual bike rodeos in Altona and Plum Coulee - to name a few.

"It was an experiment which turned out really good and this year, I think we're going to expand on that where the officers are in direct contact with the people in the community," explained the Police Chief. "I think it's important. I think it's important for people in the community to know the officers that are working here, and for the officers to know the people that are in the community as well. We are live here. It's a small community and by working together I think it makes the service better and the community safer."

And if you frequent the community's outdoor recreation facilities, like the Centennial Park, you will see APS officers more frequently, and on a new piece of equipment. Defer says they'll be making more use of the department's new electric bike, courtesy of the province's Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund.

"I think it's important, again, for community relations, as opposed to officers driving around in a car," he said. "Here, they're more visible, they're more accessible. People can walk up to the officer on a bike a heck of a lot easier than when they're sitting in a car."

Click here to read Defer's full annual report for 2023.

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