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“I can’t allocate resources to a problem I don’t know exists,” he said before urging those present to watch out for “suspicious activity” and report it, either in person, on the phone, or using social media.

Sawrenko said “things are not the same” in rural Saskatchewan as they were 30 or 40 years ago, when personal belongings did not need to be locked up constantly and keys could be left in vehicles.

“The fear is, if you lock your vehicle then they come into the house to get the keys,” a woman in the crowd responded.

The RCMP said last week town hall meetings in Biggar and Perdue were not called in response to the death of Colten Boushie, or subsequent acquittal of Gerald Stanley, who farmed nearby.

According to the force, each of the 87 detachments that make up F Division has had, or will have, a similar meeting over the coming weeks. Staff Sgt. Rob Embree said the aim is to improve communication.

Obviously, as police officers we want to have those conversations with our stakeholders, the people that we serve anywhere in Saskatchewan,” Embree told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix last week.

Photo by Kayle Neis / Saskatoon StarPhoenix

One man at the meeting asked Sawrenko what rights he and others had to try and stop someone committing a crime.

“We are trained; the general population is not trained to respond to particular situations. I understand what you’re saying but please contact us from the outset,” Sawrenko replied.

“If you can avoid a confrontation, do it … invariably there are unforeseen circumstances and unforeseen variables,” Staff Sgt. Greg Abbott, who represents the force’s central district, added.