RCMP urges residents to report crime, don’t post on Facebook

The City of Portage la Prairie is reminding residents that online social media complaints cannot replace direct reports to law enforcement.

Councillor and public safety chair Colin Doyle, addressed the issue following the latest RCMP report at the Sept. 8 council meeting, noting a disconnect between community complaints posted on social media platforms and formal reports filed with police.

“If the RCMP don’t know something’s happening, they can’t do anything about it,” Doyle said, pointing to a recent incident where residents posted online about suspicious activity in a specific area, only for five vehicles to be broken into shortly after. “It appears on the surface level to be something that could have been easily avoided.”

While Doyle praised the launch of the local Portage la Prairie RCMP Facebook page for keeping citizens informed, he said increased visibility can distort public perceptions of local crime trends.

“It doesn’t mean crime increased because of this Facebook page; it just means we’re more aware of it,” Doyle said. “I see that as a good thing because it keeps our citizens informed … but I don’t want people to lose the meaning behind it.”

He stressed that provincial policing resources, specialized units, and staffing allocations are directly tied to official call volumes. Currently, the local detachment has two officer vacancies — the lowest vacancy rate during Doyle’s term on council — alongside specialized assets including five drone pilots and two police dog handlers.

“These resources come from call volumes,” Doyle explained. “If people are not calling things in, then our numbers look lower and we do not get the resources in the same fashion. It’s always important to call it in — even something suspicious that you don’t know if a crime is taking place or not, call it in and let the RCMP decide.”

Residents reporting minor non-emergencies or municipal bylaw concerns can also contact Community Safety Officers (CSOs). Doyle noted that incidents handled by CSOs that require escalation are forwarded to the RCMP, ensuring total crime statistics remain accurate across both policing layers.

With the start of the school year, Doyle also reminded motorists to remain vigilant in school zones. Portage la Prairie maintains a year-round, 24-hour speed limit of 30 km/h in school zones to protect children using playgrounds, sports fields, and nearby daycare facilities throughout the entire year.