A new survey completed by Rocky Mountain House residents has outlined some clear priorities for RCMP members to focus on.

The spring 2025 Communities Priorities Plan survey outlined two top concerns: increased police visibility in the community, and for RCMP to crack down harder on substance abuse.

Laura Button, communications coordinator with the Town of Rocky Mountain House, said the results were not surprising and reflect issues council has heard from residents time and time again.

“People would like to see our enforcement targeting substance abuse, and seeing more local police presence and engagement in the streets,” she says.

Other priorities include increased enforcement around property crime and improved road safety.

The survey comes as RCMP detachments across Alberta transition to a new Community Priorities Plan for 2026-27, replacing the Annual Performance Plan previously used to set policing priorities.

A separate survey conducted in January 2026 did not ask residents specifically about policing but identified similar concerns, including substance abuse and a perceived rise in homelessness.

When asked what they value most about living in Rocky Mountain House, only three per cent of respondents identified public safety. The most common responses were small-town feel (25.33 per cent) and being close to family and friends (21.4 per cent).

Button said recent public consultations show residents would also like to see less emphasis on ticketing for minor traffic violations and more focus on drug enforcement, as well as property and violent crime. An exception, she noted, is traffic enforcement in school and playground zones.

Council passed a motion directing the policing committee to recommend four key focus areas for the RCMP: responding to illicit drug use and trafficking, increasing police visibility, improving road safety in school and bus stop zones, and reducing thefts, break-ins and vandalism.

An amendment from Coun. Kevin Stalker added a priority for RCMP to connect homeless people with appropriate supports. The recommendations also call for increased neighbourhood patrols and greater police presence at community events.

Mayor Shane Boniface said many of the priorities are interconnected and described the plan as a strong starting point for the local detachment.