The school resource officer (SRO) program in Lloydminster continues to see success while expanding.
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Lloydminster has two SROs, Const. Cory Booth and Const. Melanie Flynn, who work closely with youth.
“The school resource officers are embedded in both the catholic and public school division,” said Booth. “The role of the SRO is to ensure a safe place of learning by balancing crime prevention, intervention and enforcement.”
The pair are involved in a variety of activities, making themselves available to students experiencing difficulties, offering presentations, enforcing laws, organizing events, coaching and creating working relationships with community partners and school divisions.
“The objective is reducing youth involvement in crime as victims and or as offenders,” he said.
Lloydminster council recently received an update from the SROs ranging from February to June. According to Booth and Flynn, it’s been a busy year so far.
“We’ve responded to 420 calls for service since the new year,” said Flynn.
Cyber crime, something the RCMP is working to combat, has been on the rise.
“Cyber crime has taken an increase this year. We are seeing a lot more sextortion type files coming our way,” she said. “Those are, I think, the age ranging now is Grade 6 grade 7 were seeing files being generated.
“We put a lot of effort this year into combating that.”
Vaping has also been a particular focus for the SROs.
“We see a lot of the vaping stuff and that’s why we partnered with those wonderful ladies presenting on the anti-vaping movements,” said Flynn, referencing the previous presentation at council from the Lloydminster Youth Council.
She says drugs haven’t been an issue in the schools and are often solved quickly.
“Usually, our drug offence files are solved with just a home visit and education around cannabis use,” said Flynn, noting there’s only been four cannabis act/liquor files from February to June.
Assault files are also down this year.
“We saw a decrease from last year with assaults,” she said. “I think that is reflective of our direct work with youth and getting them engaged with the positive pro-social activities.
“Just letting them know we’re keeping an eye on them, too.”
The SROs have bene more directly engaged with students, offering an open-door policy.
“We put our cellphone number on our business card, hand it to a student and the students have a direct line to connect us,” said Flynn.
With the greater connectivity, RCMP is focusing more on online safety.
“We’ve done a lot of online safety talks,” said Booth. “This is super important with how kids are so connected these days.”
They’ve done more education on the Youth Criminal Justice Act, anti-bullying talks and a new-drivers presentation at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School. Bike Safety has also been a focal point as the summer sets in.
Flynn has expanded her involvement by getting into coaching. She coaches Grade 7 basketball at St. Mary’s Elementary School and senior girls’ soccer at Holy Rosary High School, among others.
The pair have also implemented youth diversion, picking up trash, community event involvement, letters of apology and assisting in conflict-resolution talks.
They’ve been engaged in youth leadership workshops and involved in over 100 local events around the city, focused on positive youth engagement and proactive initiatives to reduce youth crime.
They’ve also been involved in Trunk or Treat, the soaring project, the 2nd annual toy drive, annual basketball game, 2025 Battle of the Badges, Coffee with a Cop and detachment tours.
“We’ve done a number of detachment tours this year, 10 in total to date since our last presentation,” said Booth. “This includes local schools, play schools, day cares, the Bea Fischer Foundation.
“The St. Mary’s Grade 3 class had quite a tour this year, getting in to see the police cars in action. Going to a priority call with lights and sirens.”
The community involvement also encompasses local agencies.
“We just got added to the (Olive Tree’s) Homebase Committee and Residents and Recovery, we’re on their board this year,” said Flynn.
Coun. Michael Diachuk spoke to how much the SRO program has evolved.
“It’s kind of fun watching this sort of evolve and grow,” he said. “The real sense I had, and I don’t know whether I’m accurate or not, but it seems like you’re so much more embedded so much more deeply in a variety of organizations today then when you started off, and I’m excited about that.”
Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers said connecting with RCMP at a young age is important to building comfort.
“For young people to have that opportunity to interact with an RCMP officer at their level, I think it’s very important,” said Aalbers. “To also know and have that comfort of security and relationship building, they do need an RCMP officer, they feel comfortable, they know Const. Flynn and Const. Booth.”
It was also noted at council there will be a new SRO this fall as Booth will be departing his post.
“My third grandchild was born yesterday in Manitoba, so I will be transferring out in the fall just to be closer,” he said. “You’ll be getting a new SRO for the public side. We’re not too sure who it’s going to be, yet.”
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